Defence to trade deals: PM Modi wraps up France & UAE tours, bolstering ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi bolstered ties with France and the UAE during his visit to the two nations this week. In pic, PM Modi with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. (Reuters)

Following the meeting with the UAE President, PM Modi announced that India and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to start trade settlement in local currencies. (Reuters)

Modi held wide-ranging discussions with the UAE President during which the two leaders lauded the economic partnership and hoped to achieve the target of USD 100 billion in trade before the G-20 meeting in Delhi in September this year. (Reuters)

The warmth of the bilateral ties was on full display as the UAE President welcomed Modi with a warm embrace at Qasr-al-Watan, the presidential palace, for a ceremonial welcome. (Reuters)

In honour of the Indian Prime Minister, the President of UAE hosted a completely vegetarian meal at the Qasr-al-Watan presidential palace which also included seasonal fruits served as dessert. (Reuters)

Prime Minister Modi's visit to Paris as the guest of honour for the Bastille Day celebration on July 14 preceded his visit to Abu Dhabi. (Reuters)

During his visit, PM Modi met with a number of prominent French personalities. This picture shows French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, with the Indian Prime Minister. (Reuters)

The two leaders attended a dinner together at the Louvre in Paris where the two countries further developed their close ties. The bilateral talks led to a range of new initiatives and agreements between the two countries. (Reuters)

PM Modi and President Macron etched out a roadmap for the two countries to follow until 2047 which covers three main sectors of partnership - security and sovereignty, planet and global issues, and for people. (Reuters)

In a show of solidarity, Indian Navy and Air Force troops marched gloriously in the Bastille Day parade in Paris on July 14. (Reuters)