New Delhi: Boosting bilateral defence ties would be central to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to France that begins today. According to news agency PTI, even before PM Modi embarked on his visit, the ground had already been laid for the procurement of 26 new Rafale fighter jets for the Indian navy, while clinching a big-ticket deal for joint manufacture of an aircraft engine in India.
Without delving into specific details, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, at a media briefing, on Wednesday, said that the prime minister's visit to France would be rich in "substance" and set "new benchmark" for the strategic relation between the two nations.
"The visit of the prime minister to France would be both rich in substance and in form and we would believe that it would set a new benchmark for our strategic partnership in years ahead," PTI quoted Kwatra as saying.
According to the report, PM Modi will be the guest of honour at the annual Bastille Day Parade and also hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron to take forward the bilateral cooperation in a range of key areas, including defence, space, trade and investment.
It is to be noted that a 269-member Indian tri-services contingent will take part in the annual Bastille Day parade. Three Rafale fighter jets of the IAF will also join the flypast along with French jets.
PM Modi will meet President of the French Senate Gérard Larcher, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne and also address an Indian community event at La Seine Musicale on Thursday, PTI reported.
After concluding his visit to France, PM Modi will travel to Abu Dhabi. During his visit, he will hold talks with President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to take forward bilateral relation in areas of energy, food security, fintech and defence.