Italy: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy, where they reviewed the bilateral relationship between India and France.
The discussions centered on the ‘Horizon 2047’ Roadmap and the Indo-Pacific Roadmap.
“Discussions included cooperation in defence, nuclear, space, education, climate action, digital public infrastructure, connectivity, and cultural initiatives such as the National Museum partnership and enhancing people-to-people ties.
They agreed to further intensify strategic defence cooperation with increased focus on ‘Make in India’,” read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.
The two leaders also agreed to expand cooperation in AI, critical and emerging technologies, energy, and sports. They committed to working closely in the context of the forthcoming AI Summit and the United Nations Oceans Conference, both to be hosted in France in 2025.
Following the meeting, Modi posted on X: “Had an excellent meeting with my friend President @EmmanuelMacron. This is our fourth meeting in one year, indicating the priority we accord to strong India-French ties. Our talks covered numerous subjects such as defence, security, technology, AI, Blue Economy and more. We also discussed how to encourage innovation and research among the youth. I conveyed my best wishes to him on the hosting of the Paris Olympics, which begins next month.”
The two leaders exchanged views on key global and regional issues. “They emphasized that a strong and trusted Strategic Partnership between India and France is crucial for a stable and prosperous global order and agreed to work closely to make it scale greater heights,” the statement added.
Earlier in the day, Modi arrived in Italy to attend the G7 Summit.
