PM Modi Welcomes : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday stated that India is eagerly awaiting the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron and expressed his optimism that the upcoming talks will help take the India-France strategic partnership to new heights. The three-day official visit of French President Emmanuel Macron includes high-level bilateral talks as well as participation in the AI Impact Summit hosted by India, which is expected to bring together the world’s top technology leaders, policymakers, and innovators.
In response to the message from French President Emmanuel Macron on the social media platform X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the visit and emphasized the significance of continued cooperation between the two countries. Modi stated that the talks scheduled in Mumbai and New Delhi are expected to further strengthen cooperation in various sectors, including technology, trade, defense, and cultural exchanges. He also expressed his confidence that the talks would help contribute not only to stronger bilateral ties but also to the progress of the entire world.
President Macron, who is accompanied by a delegation of business leaders, stressed that such interactions add a concrete dimension to the relationship between India and France. He said that the visit is an occasion to move ahead with the strategic partnership and also to develop new areas of cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, cybersecurity, and manufacturing. The presence of leading industry leaders is likely to encourage new investments, technology transfers, and joint ventures between companies of both countries, which would help to generate new employment opportunities.
During the visit, both leaders are expected to assess the progress that has been made in the joint initiatives that are still ongoing. It was indicated that the areas that are expected to be covered during the visit include defence cooperation, clean energy, space cooperation, climate action, maritime security, and innovation ecosystems. India and France have in the past worked together on a number of defence and aerospace initiatives, and the upcoming discussions are expected to strengthen trust and cooperation. Renewable energy partnerships and climate initiatives are also expected to take centre stage during the visit.
The AI Impact Summit, one of the key events of Macron’s visit, is likely to highlight the developing digital infrastructure in India and its aspirations to emerge as a prominent destination for technological innovation in the world. It is expected that the summit would provide opportunities for joint research, startup collaborations, and academic engagement in areas of emerging technologies like machine learning, robotics, and data governance. Cultural diplomacy and educational exchanges are also likely to be featured.
This is the fourth visit by President Macron to India and his first official visit to Mumbai, which highlights the importance that both countries place on their developing relationship. Analysts consider this visit a major move towards strengthening the historical relationship and paving the way for future strategic, economic, and technological cooperation. With both leaders expressing a strong commitment to dialogue and cooperation, this visit is considered a milestone that will help shape the next chapter of the India-France relationship in the international arena.
