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A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched down in France for a 2-day diplomatic visit, he is set to attend the European nation’s Bastille Day parade as its guest of honour. An Indian tri-services contingent will be part of the annual celebration, which marks France’s national day, while Indian Air Force aircraft will perform a fly-past on the occasion.
On Thursday, the PM was conferred with the highest honour of nation, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, by French President Emmanuel Macron. He is set to hold key bilateral talks with Macron, which will likely lead to some key defence agreements, including on the acquisition of 26 Rafale-M (the marine version) fighters for the Indian Navy.
Here’s a look what has happened on PM Modi’s visit so far, and what to expect today.
PM Modi was decorated with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour on Thursday, "a warm gesture embodying the spirit of Indo-French parternship," the Ministry of External Affairs said.
According to the official website, the Legion of Honor is the reward for "outstanding merit acquired in the service of the nation in a civilian or military capacity."
"Foreigners may be decorated with the Legion of Honor if they have rendered services (e.g. cultural or economic) to France or supported causes defended by France... State visits are also an occasion for conferring the Legion of Honor upon official figures, pursuant to diplomatic reciprocity and thereby supporting the foreign policy of France," as per the award criteria.
Prime Minister Modi met President of the French Senate Gerard Larcher soon after landing in Paris. "They deliberated on a range of issues of mutual interest and agreed to work together to deepen India-France cooperation in a number of areas," the prime minister's office said in a statement.
"Had productive exchanges on ways to deepen India-France cooperation across diverse sectors," Modi tweeted in French.
Prime Minister Modi also met his French counterpart Elisabeth Borne and discussed measures to further strengthen the ties between two respective nations. "The leaders reviewed various facets of India-France partnership as well as discussed measures to further strengthen the ties between both the countries," the prime minister's office said in a tweet.
Borne had received Modi at the airport earlier in the day, where the latter was accorded a ceremonial welcome upon his arrival.
PM Modi addressed a large audience of hundreds of Indians at La Seine Musicale in Paris on Thursday evening, where he said, that "people-to-people connect is the strongest foundation of the India-France partnership."
The PM was welcomed at the performing centre with chants of 'Modi', 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and loud applause.
"India and France are tackling many challenges of the 21st century. Therefore, at this crucial time, the importance of the strategic partnership between our countries has increased even more," he asserted in hour-long speech.
Highlighting the ties between the two countries, Modi said, "French football player Kylian Mbappe is superhit among the youth in India. Mbappe is probably known to more people in India than in France."
In a welcome announcement for students, Modi told the audience that France has decided to grant long-term five-year visas for students pursuing a master's degree in the country.
“I will go after signing the agreement. It is your responsibility to carry it forward,” Modi said.
The prime minister further stated that an agreement has been reached for use of India’s Unified Payments Interface — or UPI — in France. “It (UPI) will be started from the Eiffel Tower. Now Indian tourists would be able to make payments in Rupees, through UPI, at the Eiffel Tower.”
Following this, PM Modi was hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and France's first lady Brigitte Macron at their official residence, the Elysee Palace, for a private dinner.
India on Thursday approved proposals for purchasing 26 Naval variant of Rafale jets from France and procuring three French-designed Scorpene class submarines, a day ahead of PM Modi's bilateral meeting with President Macron. An official announcement regarding the deal is likely to be made after today's discussions.
The projects were approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and are expected to cost between Rs 80,000 to Rs 85,000 crore, as per news agency PTI.
PM Modi will be the guest of honour at the Bastille Day Parade in France, an annual national event that celebrates the beginnings of the French Revolution which led to the wiping out of monarchy from the country.
An Indian tri-services contingent will be part of the Bastille Day Parade this year and three Indian Air Force aircraft will perform a fly-past on the occasion.
"This visit is particularly special as I will join President Macron for the French National Day, or Bastille Day celebrations in Paris as the Guest of Honour," Modi said in his departure statement on Thursday.
PM Modi will receive a ceremonial reception at the Elysee Palace on Friday evening, which will be followed by delegation-level bilateral talks between the prime minister and President Macron.
Security cooperation, space cooperation, technology partnership, counterterrorism and cybersecurity, climate change, reorientation of the security partnership in line with Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat objectives, and supply chain integration between the industry and business segments of the two countries will be among the topics of deliberation.
The two leaders will then interact with the CEOs from both countries under the rubric of India-France CEO Forum.
The PM's programme for the second day also includes a meeting with the President of the French National Assembly Braun-Pivet and a series of other meetings with thought leaders and prominent business people.
The visit will conclude with a state banquet at the Louvre Museum, which houses world-famous artworks such as the Mona Lisa and The Coronation of Napoleon.
The banquet will be hosted by the French president in honour of the Indian prime minister. A number of French and Indian leaders are likely to be in attendance at the event.
The prime minister will depart for the UAE after fulfilling his engagements in Paris, and reach the Arab nation on July 15.
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