From Paris to Marseille: PM Modi and Macron Strengthen India-France Strategic Alliance
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Synopsis
On February 12, PM Modi and President Macron honored Indian soldiers at the Mazargues War Cemetery in Marseille, inaugurating the Indian Consulate and reinforcing their strategic partnership through discussions on defense, technology, and trade.
Key Takeaways
- Prime Minister Modi and President Macron paid tribute to Indian soldiers.
- The Mazargues War Cemetery is a significant site for Indian soldiers in Europe.
- The leaders inaugurated the Indian Consulate in Marseille.
- Discussions highlighted cooperation in defense, technology, and trade.
- Ten outcomes were finalized to enhance India-France relations.
Paris, Feb 12 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Mazargues War Cemetery in Marseille on Wednesday alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, honoring the Indian soldiers who bravely fought in the World Wars and made the ultimate sacrifice.
The Mazargues War Cemetery stands as the second largest resting place for Indian soldiers in Europe, featuring 1,487 Commonwealth war graves from the First World War.
The two leaders then proceeded to inaugurate the Indian Consulate in Marseille, where a significant number of the Indian diaspora gathered to meet Prime Minister Modi.
In a notable gesture showcasing their personal rapport, PM Modi and President Macron traveled together from Paris to Marseille aboard the French Presidential Aircraft on Tuesday evening.
"They engaged in discussions covering the full range of bilateral relations and pivotal global and regional matters. This was followed by delegation-level talks upon their arrival in Marseille. The leaders reiterated their strong commitment to the India-France Strategic Partnership, which has progressively evolved into a multifaceted relationship over the last 25 years," stated the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
The talks, as detailed in the statement, encompassed all facets of the India-France strategic partnership. The leaders evaluated collaboration in strategic domains such as defence, civil nuclear energy, and space.
"They also explored methods to bolster collaboration in the realms of technology and innovation. This area of partnership has gained heightened significance in light of the recently concluded AI Action Summit and the forthcoming India-France Year of Innovation in 2026. The leaders called for enhancing trade and investment relations, welcoming the report from the 14th India-France CEOs Forum in this context," it added.
Prime Minister Modi and President Macron expressed their satisfaction with the ongoing cooperation in fields like health, culture, tourism, education, and people-to-people ties. They committed to further deepen engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and in global forums and initiatives, as mentioned by the PMO.
A Joint Statement outlining the future roadmap for India-France relations was also adopted following the discussions. Ten outcomes covering areas such as technology and innovation, civil nuclear energy, triangular cooperation, environment, culture, and people-to-people relations were finalized.
President Macron hosted a dinner in honor of the Prime Minister in the coastal town of Cassis, near Marseille, on Tuesday, while PM Modi extended an invitation for the French President to visit India soon.
