Kumar Bahukhandi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi – Photo: ANI
France: When the PM reached the hotel from the airport, a large number of people from the NRI community were present there to welcome him.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached Paris, the capital of France, to attend the Global AI Summit. PM Modi, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, will co-chair the summit on Tuesday. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, PM Modi was given a warm welcome in Paris. French Minister of Armed Forces Seb Lecorno received him at the airport.
When the PM reached the hotel from the airport, a large number of people from the NRI community were present there to welcome him. According to French time, late on Monday evening, the PM attended the dinner hosted by President Macron. This dinner was organized in honor of the heads of state and government who arrived in Paris to participate in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit.
In a post on ‘X’, Modi shared pictures of his arrival and said, I reached Paris a while ago. I am looking forward to various programs here, which will focus on future areas like AI, technology and innovation. In a post on ‘X’, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached Paris, where he was given a special welcome. French Armed Forces Minister Sabelcornu warmly welcomed him at the airport.
Bilateral talks are also to be held between Modi and Macron during the France tour. Before leaving for Paris, PM Modi issued a statement saying, I will visit France from 10 to 12 February at the invitation of the President of France. I am looking forward to co-chairing the AI Action Summit in Paris. This is a gathering of world leaders and global tech CEOs, where we will exchange views on a collaborative approach to the use of AI technology for innovation and wider public welfare in an inclusive, secure and reliable manner.
The PM said, this visit will provide an opportunity to review the progress on the 2047 Horizon Roadmap for India-France Strategic Partnership with friend Macron. I will talk to President Macron to strengthen India-France relations. We will also visit Marseille to inaugurate a consulate. We will also visit the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project to harness energy for global good, in which India is a member of a consortium of participating countries, including France. I will also pay homage to the Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during the First and Second World Wars at the Mazargues War Cemetery.
India, France’s shared interests are centered on friendship: Macron
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said that India-France’s shared interests are centered on friendship. In a video interview with France24, an Indian news group and network, just before PM Modi’s two-day visit to France on Monday, Macron highlighted India’s strength in technology and education. “India is a training superpower with one million engineers being produced per year. This is more than the combined number of engineers produced in the whole of the US and Europe. Our shared interests are centered on friendship. We want to train our talent so that they can go abroad, but they should also stay at home,” Macron said. The interview began with Macron saying namaste to the people of India in Hindi and ended by saying thank you very much.
France is interested in buying Pinaka from India
Bangalore. France is in advanced stages of talks to buy the multi-barrel rocket launcher system Pinaka from India. If the deal is successful, it will be the first time that India’s second-largest arms supplier will buy weapons from India. India is the world’s largest arms importer but in recent years it has been trying to increase local production to meet its arms needs. Along with this, India is also gradually increasing its defense exports.
Pinaka was demonstrated to the French team three months ago
Government sources said that the Pinama rocket system with a range of 90 kilometers was demonstrated to the French delegation three months ago, which was found satisfactory by the French officials. On the sidelines of India’s Aero India Aerospace Exhibition in Bangalore, U Raja Babu, Director General of Missile and Strategic Systems of Defense Research and Development Organization, said, France is in active talks to buy Pinaka. The deal has not been finalized yet but talks are going on.
