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PM’s visit to France and UAE
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid an Official Visit to France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from July 13-15, 2023. The Prime Minister visited Paris from July 13-14, 2023, at the invitation of Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of France. The PM Shri Modi was the Guest of Honour at the Bastille Day Parade on July 14, 2023, where a Tri-Services Indian armed forces contingent participated. Thereafter, the Prime Minister visited Abu Dhabi on July 15. He held talks with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and discussed cooperation on global issues, particularly in the context of the UAE’s Presidency of COP-28 of the UNFCCC and India’s G-20 Presidency, in which the UAE is a Special Invitee.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrived in Paris in the afternoon of July 13, 2023, to attend the Bastille Day Parade as Guest of Honour on invitation by President of France Mr. Emmanuel Macron. In a special gesture, Prime Minister of France Ms. Elisabeth Borne received Prime Minister Modi at the airport. A ceremonial welcome and Guard of honour were accorded to Prime Minister Modi. This visit also marks the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met President of the French Senate, Mr. Gerard Larcher, on the first day of the visit.
Prime Minister Shri Modi highlighted the significance of both countries’ shared values of democracy, freedom, and equality’, which form the foundation ethos of the India-France partnership.
The discussions focused on a wide range of areas, including India’s G20 priorities, democratic values in technology usage, and cooperation between the two Upper Houses. Regional and global issues of mutual interest were also discussed. Prime Minister Shri Modi also met Prime Minister of France, Ms. Elisabeth Borne. The leaders discussed furthering cooperation in various areas such as economics and trade, energy, environment, education, mobility, railways, digital public infrastructure, museology, and people-to-people ties. Both sides reiterated their desire to further deepen the multifaceted cooperation between India and France. After the meeting Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Indian community at La Seine Musicale.
Attends the Bastille Day Parade as Guest of Honour
On the second day of his visit, on July 14, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi attended the Bastille Day Parade as Guest of Honour at the invitation of Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of France, on the Champs-Élysées.
To mark the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership, a 241-member tri-service Indian armed forces contingent led by a military band also
PM Conferred with France’s highest award the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was conferred with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest award, by Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of France.
On behalf of the Indian people, the Prime Minister thanked President Macron for this exceptional honour. The Elysee Palace in Paris hosted the award ceremony. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Indian community at La Seine Musicale following the meeting.
participated in the Parade. The Indian Army contingent was led by the Punjab Regiment, along with the Rajputana Rifles Regiment.
Rafale Jets of the Indian Air Force, from the 101 Squadron from Hashimara, formed a part of the flypast during the parade.
July 14 marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789, during the French Revolution, which symbolises the democratic values of liberty, equality, and fraternity’, the central themes of both the Indian and French constitutions.
Meeting with President of the French National Assembly & other eminent personalities
Later, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met Ms. Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the French National Assembly, and the senior leadership of the Assembly, over lunch at her official residence, the Hotel de Lassay in Paris. They discussed ways to further increase cooperation between the two Parliaments.
The French side expressed admiration for India’s vast electoral process. Discussions also covered various pillars of the strategic partnership, including trade and economy, environment, technology, and culture. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues. The Prime Minister also met Ms. Charlotte Chopin, a renowned French yoga teacher, in Paris during the second day of the visit.
The Prime Minister appreciated Ms. Chopin’s deep faith in yoga and her ground-breaking work in the promotion of Yoga in France. Ms. Chopin shared her views on how yoga can bring happiness and promote holistic wellbeing. They also exchanged views on the increased interest in Yoga owing to the International Day of Yoga celebrations.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi invited during his meeting with Ms. Leena Nair, Global CEO of Chanel, a French luxury fashion house, to explore investment opportunities and collaboration potential in India. And discussed ways to promote handicrafts, khadi, and the skill development of artisans in India. Also, he held a meeting with Thomas Pesquet, a French astronaut, pilot, and actor, and discussed India’s progress in the space sector, particularly in promoting startups and encouraging greater private sector participation.
Ambitious outcome documents adopted in the meeting with President Macron
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held tête-à-tête and delegation level talks with Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of France, at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Both leaders held extensive discussions on a wide range of areas of bilateral cooperation, including defence and security, civil nuclear, science and technology, energy, trade and investment, space, climate action, and people-to-people ties. Discussions also covered India’s G20 Presidency, the Indo-Pacific, and regional and global issues of mutual interest. Ambitious outcome documents, including “Horizon 2047: Charting the future of the India-France Strategic Partnership”, were adopted. The Prime Minister conveyed that he looks forward to welcoming President Macron in New Delhi for the G20 Leaders’ Summit in September 2023.
Later on, both leaders jointly addressed a group of leading Indian and French CEOs at the Quai d’Orsay in Paris. The Forum consisted of CEOs from diverse sectors, including aviation, manufacturing, defence, technology, and energy, among others. The Prime Minister acknowledged the role played by these industry leaders in strengthening bilateral relations and promoting economic cooperation between India and France. He highlighted India’s progress in renewables, startups, pharma, IT, digital payments, and infrastructure and the various initiatives undertaken to foster business.
MoU to open IIT Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi during PM’s UAE visit
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrived in Abu Dhabi on July 15, 2023. The Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at the airport. In a joint statement, both sides noted that this was the fifth visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to the UAE in the last eight years. Prime Minister Modi last visited the UAE in June 2022, when he visited Abu Dhabi to meet HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to convey his greetings as His Highness assumed the presidency of the UAE. In 2015, Prime Minister Modi became the first Prime Minister of India to visit the UAE in 34 years. This visit was followed by the visit of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India in 2016, and in 2017, when Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations. Moreover, the India-UAE relationship was formally elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the visit of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India in 2017.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has also been signed between the Ministry
of Education, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) to establish the first campus of IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister, after concluding the visit, said, “Concluding a productive UAE visit. Our nations are working together on so many issues aimed at making our planet better. I thank HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the warm hospitality”.
The important highlights of the outcomes of the UAE’s visit are that the two leaders agreed to start trade settlements in local currencies, link the Fast payment systems of India and the UAE, and open an IIT-Delhi campus in the Gulf country. The Prime Minister departed for India after a banquet hosted in his honour by the UAE President.