Paris, April 13 (NationPress) On Monday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri convened with Jean-Noel Barrot, the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in Paris. They engaged in discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and addressing pressing global issues, notably the situation in the Middle East.

The Indian Embassy in France noted on X: "Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had a productive meeting with H.E. Jean-Noel Barrot, where they explored critical avenues for bilateral collaboration and current global challenges, including the circumstances in the Middle East."

This meeting is particularly significant against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East, following unsuccessful negotiations between US and Iranian officials.

Prior to this meeting, Misri visited the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC) in Paris, where he attended the exhibition titled “L’Art de L’Inde: Aujourd’hui.” This exhibition showcases 80 works from 40 Indian artists, emphasizing India's vibrant artistic heritage, as stated by the Embassy.

Misri's trip to Paris commenced on Sunday for the India–France Foreign Office Consultations. The Indian Embassy emphasized that this visit is a continuation of the high-level exchanges between India and Europe, following French President Emmanuel Macron's trip to India in February 2026.

According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Misri is set to co-chair the India-France Foreign Office Consultations alongside Martin Briens, Secretary General of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Their discussions will cover a wide range of topics, including defense, civil nuclear energy, space, cyber and digital technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and initiatives aimed at enhancing people-to-people exchanges and cultural ties. They will also examine the latest global and regional developments.

Upon completing his engagements in France, Vikram Misri is scheduled to proceed to Germany, where he will co-chair Foreign Office Consultations with Geza Andreas von Geyr, State Secretary of the German Foreign Office.

"This visit follows engagements from German Chancellor H.E. Mr. Friedrich Merz and French President H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron in India earlier this year and is part of the ongoing high-level interactions between India and Europe. It represents a valuable opportunity to assess the full spectrum of India’s bilateral relations with both nations and to promote ongoing cooperation in key priority areas," the MEA stated in its release.