PM Modi Attends Bastille Day Parade As Guest Of Honour With President Macron — WATCH

PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron will also attend the India-France CEO Forum. Later in the evening, Macron will host a banquet for Modi at the renowned Louvre Museum complex in Paris.

PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Bastille Day Parade on Friday.

Source : ANI

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday morning arrived at Champs-Elysées in Paris and joined French President Emmanuel Macron for the Bastille Day celebrations on Friday as the Guest of Honour. Prime Minister Modi received a ceremonial reception at the Elysee Palace. The French National Day, also known as Bastille Day, holds a significant place in French history as it commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison during the French Revolution in 1789. The Bastille Day parade is the main highlight of the festivities.

A contingent of 269 members from the Indian tri-services is also part of the parade, showcasing India's military strength. The Indian Air Force has also contributed three Rafale fighter jets to participate in the flypast alongside French jets.

The two leaders will also attend the India-France CEO Forum. Later in the evening, Macron will host a banquet for Modi at the renowned Louvre Museum complex in Paris.

During a media briefing in New Delhi, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra highlighted that the prime minister's visit to France would mark a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between the two countries. The discussions between Modi and Macron will cover various areas of cooperation, including security, civil nuclear technology, counter-terrorism, cyber security, space, climate change, and supply chain integration.

Kwatra further mentioned that both leaders are expected to explore new opportunities for cooperation in the space sector. Additionally, the expansion of bilateral defence ties will be a key focus of Prime Minister Modi's visit, with ongoing negotiations for India's procurement of 26 naval variants of Rafale jets from France. Furthermore, discussions are underway to finalize a substantial deal for the joint development of an aircraft engine in India.

In a press statement, the Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that Modi's visit to France presents an opportunity to strengthen the partnership between the two nations in various sectors, including strategic, cultural, scientific, academic, and economic cooperation.