India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has said that India-France ties touched new heights during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two day visit to France.
There was definitely a lot of genuine bonhomie right from the start to the end of the Prime Minister’s visit.
Strengthening Of Partnership
He said, ”The visit has further solidified our longstanding partnership in the strategic areas of defense and security, space, civil nuclear cooperation, economic cooperation, and has laid down the markers for its diversification into newer areas of critical and emerging technologies of innovation, renewable energy, environment, health, education, and culture, and has played a major role in further strengthening the already exceptional bonds that exist between our two countries and between our two peoples.”
Bilateral Meetings
The Prime Minister also met the President of Estonia, President Alar Karis and the Vice President of the United States, JD Vance.
Substantial Outcomes
Briefing media persons on the “substantial outcomes” in four major areas during Modi’s visit to France, the Foreign Secretary said, “You could say that India-France relations touched new heights, literally.”
He mentioned the Prime Minister’s address at the plenary session of the AI Action Summit.
“There were also outcomes in the areas of digital sciences and startup collaboration. In the area of civil nuclear energy cooperation, the two sides have concluded a declaration of intent on collaboration in co-designing, co-developing, and co-producing Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs). The two sides will also be cooperating in the field of capacity building of researchers and professionals in this field,” he said.
Misri also drew attention to substantial outcomes in culture and people-to-people ties.
Co-Designing SMRs And AMRs
Replying to a question, the Foreign Secretary explained, ” If we, from the outset itself, get into co-designing, co-producing, and co-developing SMRs and AMRs, it can leverage the industrial ecosystem in India that already exists for nuclear components and nuclear power plants, and both countries will benefit.”
“Given the coming revolution in AI and the demands that it will make on the energy vector, this particular area of cooperation and development of SMRs and AMRs is a particularly promising vector for India-France cooperation into the future,” he said.
Taking Forward Agreements To Strengthen Cultural Ties
He informed media persons that the leaders have also given directions for early implementation of the agreement between the National Museum of India and France Muséums Développement.
The two sides have also operationalized the young professional scheme, which will help in promoting legal mobility of professionals, of skilled workforce, and students in both directions.
Modi And Macron Visit ITER Facility
The Foreign Secretary also mentioned that the two leaders also visited the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Facility, ITER, in Cadarache.
The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted the significance of their visit to ITER thus. ” This was the first visit by any Head of State or Head of Government to ITER-one of the most ambitious fusion energy projects in the world today.”
The MEA said that the leaders appreciated the progress of ITER, including the assembly of the world’s largest Tokamak, where ultimately 500 MW of fusion power will be produced by creating, containing and controlling burning plasma.
Notably, India is among the seven ITER members contributing to the project over the last two decades.
Indian Scientists Engaged In ITER Project
Around 200 Indian scientists and associates, as well as notable industry players such as L&T, Inax India, TCS, TCE, HCL Technologies, among others are engaged in the ITER project.
Both Leaders Addressed The CEOs Forum
The Prime Minister acknowledged the key role being played by business leaders in both countries in bringing our two countries closer together and promoting bilateral relations.
He gave an overview of the next generation of economic reforms being pursued in India, and invited French companies to explore new opportunities in the India growth story, especially in the areas of defense, civil nuclear possibilities, insurance, and advanced manufacturing.
President Macron’s Exceptional Gestures
Misri enumerated some exceptional and special gestures of President Emmanuel Macron.
He said that the inauguration of the new Indian Consulate General in Marseilles, which had been announced by Prime Minister during his visit to Paris in July 2023, was a rare and exceptional gesture.
“I can’t recall too many consulates that have been jointly inaugurated by a President and the Prime Minister, so this was a really, really special occasion, and it speaks to, once again, the kind of friendship, the sense of comfort, and the sentiments that are shared by the two leaders and our two peoples.”
He said that after the CEOs Forum meeting, the two leaders traveled together to Marseille in the French presidential aircraft.
This was “an exceptional gesture by President Macron and in fact, emblematic not only of the deep personal trust between the two leaders, but also of the remarkable confidence that they have in each other, and that really characterizes the relationship as well.”
The Foreign Secretary said that India and France concluded a joint declaration of intent for triangular development cooperation.
Partnership In The Indo-Pacific
“Our partnership in the Indo-Pacific looks at providing solutions to countries in this region for their economic progress and their development in furtherance of the India-France roadmap on the Indo-Pacific. And the idea is for the two countries to identify and implement sustainable development goals and climate-focused projects in priority sectors, including digital innovation, digital public infrastructure, clean energy, green technologies, preservation of biodiversity, women empowerment, education, health, nutrition, water, and sanitation.”
India To Host The Next AI Summit
He said that India has proposed hosting the next AI summit and 2026 has been designated as the India-France Year of Innovation.
Strategic Partnership
He said that the two leaders covered the entire gamut of deep and diverse strategic partnership.
“Our Strategic Partnership is entering into a new era focused on innovation, on science, and on technology. The two countries have adopted a separate declaration on Artificial Intelligence, which identifies our key priorities in this area and explores the possibilities of cooperation in view of the large alignment that we see between India and France insofar as AI is concerned. For instance, our shared commitment to promoting the development of safe, secure, and trustworthy AI for the public good.”
He said, “The India-France relationship, the strategic partnership I should say, which has just completed 25 years, has seen consistent and all-round progress as per the three pillars of the Horizon 2047 roadmap, which is partnership for security and sovereignty, partnership for the planet, and partnership for the people.”
