Modi's Paris Visit: PM Made Bastille Day Parade's Guest of Honour To Mark 25 Yrs Of India-France Ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Paris is expected to herald the next phase in the India-France Strategic Partnership, the Ministry of External Affairs stated.

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accepted French President Emmanuel Macron’s invitation to attend this year’s Bastille Day Parade as Guest of Honour on July 14, 2023, in Paris, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed on Friday. To mark this important milestone, an Indian armed forces contingent will participate in the Parade alongside their French counterparts, an MEA release mentioned.

"Prime Minister’s visit is expected to herald the next phase in the India-France Strategic Partnership by setting new and ambitious goals for our strategic, cultural, scientific, academic, economic cooperation, including in a wide range of industries," the official statement read.

The MEA highlighted that India and France have a shared vision of peace and security, especially in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, and uphold the objectives and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, which are also the basis of the countries' cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

"This historic visit will also deliver common initiatives in order to respond to the key challenges of our time, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, and will be an opportunity for India and France to reaffirm their commitment to multilateralism, including in the context of India’s G20 Presidency," the statement mentioned.

Attending Bastille Day A Rare Privilege For France’s Closest Allies

Being a Guest of Honour at France’s Bastille Day Parade is a rare privilege for the country’s closest allies. The celebration in Paris marks the fall of a fortress that symbolised the French Revolution of 1789. It typically includes a military parade on Champs Elysees Avenue and air force jets flying over the capital, a report by Bloomberg mentioned.

Previous foreign guests include former US president Donald Trump and ex-German chancellor Angela Merkel.

The French President is expected to visit India in September, the report stated as it mentioned how Macron looks to deepen political and business ties with developing countries in a bid to make Europe a stronger partner than China.