Paris: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France showcased an exceptional level of respect and camaraderie shared with French President Emmanuel Macron. From joint dinners to traveling together, their friendship stood out as a key highlight of the trip.
On the first evening of the visit, President Macron hosted a dinner for PM Modi, spending valuable time with him. The following day, the two leaders co-chaired the AI Action Summit. Demonstrating the close ties between India and France, they hosted the India-France CEOs Forum together to emphasize their vision for deeper economic collaboration.
Extraordinary gestures
In a rare gesture of friendship, PM Modi and President Macron traveled in a joint motorcade and shared the same plane to Marseille. Upon arrival, President Macron hosted a working dinner for PM Modi.
On Wednesday, this partnership will be highlighted as President Macron will join PM Modi in inaugurating the Indian Consulate in Marseille. The two leaders will also visit ITER project and the Marseille port.
Key highlights of PM Modi’s France, US visits
PM Modi’s foreign tour includes visits to France and the United States. Starting in France, he participated in the AI Action Summit, delivered an address, and co-chaired the event with President Macron. The tour also involved meetings with key global leaders and a focus on advancing India’s international relations.
During the AI Action Summit, PM Modi emphasized the importance of open-source systems to build trust and transparency in artificial intelligence. He offered to host the next summit in India, a proposal that was accepted. S Krishnan, Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), confirmed that the summit will take place in India later this year, calling it the perfect time for India to take the lead in global AI initiatives.
PM Modi met US Vice President JD Vance, his wife Usha, and their sons Ivan and Vivek. The meeting also turned into a birthday celebration for Vance’s son, Vivek. PM Modi shared pictures on Instagram, expressing joy over the warm interaction.
Vice President Vance praised PM Modi’s perspective on AI, stating that AI will enhance human productivity but will never replace human capabilities. PM Modi also met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Paris. Sharing a picture from the meeting, PM Modi expressed his happiness in discussing global issues with the UN chief. PM Modi paid tribute to freedom fighter VD Savarkar. PM Modi wrote on X that Marseille is deeply connected to India’s struggle for independence.
At India-France CEOs Forum, PM Modi invited French companies to be part of India’s growth story. He highlighted that India offers immense opportunities for investment and encouraged companies to seize this moment for mutual progress. PM Modi assured that India’s growth is closely tied to global progress and urged French companies to collaborate in various sectors to strengthen economic ties further.
