French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday tweeted in Hindi while welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Paris. Macron, who invited PM Modi as the Guest of Honour for the French National Day celebrations, said India and France were celebrating 25 years of strategic partnership made of trust and friendship.
"India and France are celebrating 25 years of strategic partnership built on trust and friendship, which are only getting stronger with time. Dear Narendra Modi, welcome to Paris," Macron tweeted in Hindi.
On Thursday, Macron conferred PM Modi with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, France's highest civilian and military honour. Modi became the first Indian PM to have been conferred with the honour.
"A warm gesture embodying the spirit of partnership. PM Narendra Modi conferred with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, the highest award in France by President Emmanuel Macron," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.
PM Modi was also hosted by French President Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron for a private dinner at the Elysee Palace on Thursday.
Before the dinner, PM Modi addressed the Indian diaspora in Paris and announced an agreement for the use of UPI in France. PM Modi said Indian tourists would be able to make rupee payments using UPI from atop the Eiffel Tower.
In his nearly hour-long speech at the La Seine Musicale to the Indian diaspora amid chants of "Modi, Modi" and "Bharat Mata ki Jai", PM Modi said a statue of great Tamil philosopher Thiruvalluvar would be built in the Cergy Prefecture this year.
He also said that France would grant long-term five-year visas for students pursuing a masters degree in the European nation and announced the opening of a new Indian consulate in Marseille, PTI reported.