10-Feb-2025 10:59 PM
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Paris/New Delhi, Feb 10 (Reporter) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening arrived in Paris on a three-day visit at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. The PM will co-chair the Artificial Intelligence Summit along with President Macron and also hold bilateral talks with him.
The PM said in a post on X after his arrival:
“Landed in Paris a short while ago. Looking forward to the various programmes here, which will focus on futuristic sectors like AI, tech and innovation.”
The MEA spokesperson said in a post:
“PM @narendramodi arrived in Paris to a special welcome.
“Warmly received by Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu @SebLecornu of France at the airport.”
The PM was accorded a guard of honour upon his arrival at the airport, amid a rain-drenched evening.
Enthusiastic members of the Indian community warmly welcomed PM Modi as he arrived at the hotel in Paris, with shouts of “Modi, Modi” and drum beats.
Later on Monday evening, PM Modi will attend a dinner being hosted by President Macron at the Élysée Palace in honor of the visiting Heads of Government and Heads of State for the AI Summit. The dinner is to be attended by a large number of CEOs from the tech domain and other distinguished invitees.
On February 11, Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi will co-chair the AI Action Summit, along with President Macron.
This is the third such high level summit being held in the recent past. The first of was in the UK in 2023, the second in the Republic of Korea in 2024, and the third one is being held in France.
After the AI summit, Prime Minister Modi and President Macron will address the India-France CEOs Forum, and they will also hold discussions in both the restricted and delegation level talks format.
PM Modi will travel to Marseille on the evening of 11th of February alongwith President Macron, who will host a dinner in honor of the Prime Minister.
The following morning, on February 12, the two leaders will together visit the Mazargues War Cemetery, that is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. And this will be an opportunity for both leaders to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by Indian soldiers during the First World War.
The two leaders will jointly inaugurate the newest Consulate General of India in Marseille.
Both leaders will undertake a visit together to a place called Cadarache, which is the site of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), a high science project in which India is a partner along with a few other countries.
Last year, the two nations celebrated the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership, which covers the entire gamut of issues from defense and security, civilian nuclear matters, space, trade, economy, and commerce, and is now expanding to newer areas such as innovation and technology, maritime security cooperation, counter terrorism, health cooperation, renewable energy, and development cooperation, especially development cooperation aimed at third countries.
The year 2023 marked 25 years of India-France Strategic Partnership, when Prime Minister Modi paid an Official Visit from 13-14 July as the Guest of Honour at the French National Day. During the visit, both sides adopted a roadmap ‘Horizon 2047’, setting the course for the next 25 years, which will mark centenaries of India’s independence and diplomatic relations between both countries.
Following Prime Minister Modi’s 2023 visit, President Macron paid a State Visit to India as the Chief Guest for the 75th Republic Day of India on 25-26 January 2024. This was President Macron’s second State Visit to India and the sixth visit by a French Leader as Guest of Honour for the Republic Day.
For the two leaders to be the Guests of Honour at the successive National days respectively, was unprecedented and a high point in the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the declaration of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries...////...