Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Paris on Thursday, 18 June, receiving what he described as a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora in France, following the conclusion of his engagements at the G7 Summit in Évian. Modi said he was 'proud of the Indian community's efforts in bringing India and France closer to each other', adding that the 'India-France partnership is vital for the progress of our planet.'

Modi's Message to the Diaspora

In a post on his official X account, Prime Minister Modi wrote: 'Reached Paris a short while ago to a warm welcome by the Indian diaspora. I am proud of their efforts in bringing India and France closer. The India-France partnership is vital for the progress of our planet.' The statement underscores the growing role overseas Indians play in shaping bilateral diplomatic and economic ties.

G7 Summit Takeaways

On Wednesday evening, Modi said his engagements at the G7 Summit in Évian were productive, with India presenting its positions on governance, policymaking, and the importance of closer collaboration with the Global South to advance global prosperity. He noted that India's perspectives were well received by attending leaders. In his X post from Évian, Modi wrote: 'I had a series of productive meetings and exchanges during the G7 Summit in Évian. I had the opportunity to present India's positions and efforts on key areas of governance and policymaking. I also had the opportunity to emphasize the need to work closely with the Global South regarding global prosperity.'

Paris Agenda: VivaTech 2026 and Diaspora Engagement

The Paris leg of Modi's France visit includes an address at VivaTech 2026, one of Europe's largest technology and innovation conferences, and a community interaction with the Indian diaspora. His participation at VivaTech is expected to spotlight India's expanding digital economy and innovation ecosystem. The diaspora event, meanwhile, reinforces the people-to-people dimension of the bilateral relationship.

India-France Strategic Partnership

France is a longstanding strategic partner of India, with cooperation spanning defence, space, nuclear energy, and cultural exchanges. India has been actively positioning itself as a leading voice of the Global South, advocating for inclusive growth, fair trade, and equitable access to technology. Modi's interventions at the G7 are seen as part of this broader diplomatic outreach, reinforcing India's role in shaping global governance debates.

What Comes Next

The Paris visit is expected to further deepen India-France relations, particularly in the areas of technology, innovation, and bilateral people-to-people ties. Outcomes from VivaTech and the diaspora interaction are likely to set the tone for the next phase of the strategic partnership.