Paris [France], July 13 (ANI): Hailing the bilateral ties between India and France, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated the connection between the 2 international locations are in an ‘glorious’ area and stood regular and resilient by means of the ‘darkest storms’.
PM Modi has launched into a go to to France on the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron. His two-day go to, on July 13 and 14, is particular as this 12 months marks the twenty fifth anniversary of the strategic partnership between India and France.
In an interview to French newspaper Les Echos earlier than departing for France, PM Modi stated, “First of all, on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, I wish to convey my heartfelt gratitude to France, to its government and personally to President Macron for inviting India to 14th July National day celebrations as Guest of honour. I feel grateful to visit France on this occasion. This is a special year as it marks the 25th anniversary of our strategic partnership. It is an honour for India and a tribute to India-France friendship.”PM Modi would be the Guest of Honour on the French Bastille Day celebrations on the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron, on July 14.
PM Modi acknowledged that the relations between the 2 international locations are presently at a turning level and the success of the strategic partnership has been important in taking the ties ahead.
Delving deeper into the India-France partnership, PM Modi stated, “Our partnership in sensitive areas like space and defence go back to five decades and more. It was a phase when the West did not have a friendly disposition towards India. So, it is not a surprise that France was the first Western country with which we declared a Strategic Partnership. That was a difficult time for the world, including for In-dia. Since then our relationship has transformed into a partnership that is important not just for our two countries, but is of great geopolitical consequence.”Affirming that the connection between the 2 international locations was in glorious area, PM Modi added, “The relationship is in excellent shape. It is strong, trusted, consistent. It has been steady and resilient in the darkest storms. It has been bold and ambitious in looking for opportunities,” in accordance with English translation of the Interview of PM to French newspaper Les Echos.
“The level of mutual trust and confidence we share is unmatched. It stems from shared values and vision. We share a strong sense of strategic autonomy. Both have deep commitment to international law. We both seek a multipolar world. Both of us carry an unwavering faith in multilateralism,” he added.
To a query on expectations from France with regard to extending strategic help to India amid its frosty equations with China, PM Modi stated that India and France have a wide-ranging and complete strategic partnership that features cooperation within the areas of politics, defence, safety, economic system, and human-centric growth.
“When countries with similar vision and values work together, bilaterally, in plurilateral arrangements or in regional institutions, they can deal with any challenge,” PM Modi informed Les Echos.
“Our partnership, including in the Indo Pacific region, is not directed against, or at the expense of any country. Our aim is to safeguard our economic and security interests, ensure freedom of navigation and commerce, advance the rule of international law in the region,” Prime Minister Modi stated.
Earlier, on Thursday morning, PM Modi left for France on a two-day official go to.
Ahead of his departure to France, PM Modi, in an announcement, stated he was trying ahead to assembly French President Emmanuel Macron and holding discussions on taking ahead the partnership between each nations.
“I look forward to meeting President Macron and holding wide-ranging discussions on taking forward this longstanding and time-tested partnership over the next 25 years. I have had the opportunity to meet President Macron several times since my last Official Visit to France in 2022, most recently in Hiroshima, Japan in May 2023 during the G-7 Summit,” learn an official assertion launched from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Terming his go to to France as “special”, PM Modi knowledgeable that an Indian tri-services contingent will participate within the Bastille Day Parade.
He added that the Indian Air Force plane can even carry out a fly-past on the event. (ANI)