Meeting with French President Macron Highlights India-France Relations

NEW-DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a series of productive bilateral discussions with world leaders, enhancing diplomatic ties and exploring avenues of cooperation. His meetings included high-profile talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

-- Deepening India-France Partnership for Progress

Following the conclusion of the G20 summit, Prime Minister Modi took to the social media platform 'X' (Formerly called as Twitter) to express the significance of his lunch meeting with President Emmanuel Macron. He described it as "a very meaningful lunch meeting," during which the two leaders discussed a wide range of topics and expressed their commitment to elevating India-France relations to new heights of progress.

President Macron, in his post-summit media interaction, underscored the strategic nature of India-France relations, emphasizing that they extend beyond bilateral ties. He asserted that both countries are moving towards opposing the division of the world and stressed the need for collaborative efforts. While details about India-France defense relations were not disclosed, Macron hinted at upcoming agreements and defense equipment procurement.

A joint statement issued by India and France highlighted their commitment to strengthening cooperation through advanced technologies, platform design, development, and manufacturing. This collaboration extends to third countries in the Indo-Pacific region and aims to bolster the security industry.

Furthermore, the leaders discussed areas such as digital innovation, science, technology, education, culture, health, and environmental cooperation. They agreed to establish an 'Indo-French Campus' model for the Indo-Pacific region and explored opportunities to enhance institutional relations in these domains.

-- Exploring Trade & Infrastructure Expansion with Turkey

In addition to his meeting with President Macron, Prime Minister Modi also engaged in discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, focusing on reinforcing trade and infrastructure ties between India and Turkey. The Prime Minister expressed their shared commitment to advancing these crucial aspects of their bilateral relationship.

Addressing the press, President Erdogan expressed confidence in harnessing the vast potential for cooperation between the two nations. He highlighted that India is Turkey's largest trading partner in South Asia and underscored the significant economic and multifaceted collaboration opportunities that have emerged, particularly following the recent elections in Turkey. Both leaders shared a common vision of enhancing cooperation in various sectors, including the economy, paving the way for mutually beneficial partnerships in the near future.