NEW DELHI (AP) – The French president was scheduled to arrive in India on Thursday to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and be the guest of honor at a National Day celebration.
President Emmanuel Macron began his visit by sightseeing in the western city of Jaipur, a popular tourist destination, visiting a 17th-century fortress and an 18th-century observatory.
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Prime Minister Modi met them at the observatory, and the two traveled about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) in an open jeep. Huge crowds lined the streets to welcome them, scattering rose and marigold petals.
Large cutouts of their photos with the inscription “Friendship of India and France'' dotted the route. Mr. Macron waved to the crowd.
French President Emmanuel Macron will be the guest of honor at India's Republic Day parade.
“His presence will not only strengthen the ties between our two countries, but also add an important chapter to our shared history of friendship and cooperation,” PM Modi said on Twitter.
President Macron and Prime Minister Modi later met at a hotel in Jaipur before flying to New Delhi. There was no immediate official announcement of the outcome of the meeting, but it is expected to discuss key global issues such as the economy, defence, space and cyber security, as well as France's role in the Indo-Pacific region.
France aims to strengthen cooperation with India on everything from climate change to military sales, despite friction over the two countries' stance on Russia's war against Ukraine.
“President Macron is committed to pursuing closer dialogue with India, which is a major player on the international stage from demographic, economic, scientific and diplomatic perspectives,” the prime minister's office said in a statement on Wednesday. said.
France reiterated its commitment to defense ties with India, including sharing technology. According to India's Ministry of External Affairs, the two countries are working on joint development and co-production of defense projects.
The two leaders are expected to continue discussing the plan to buy 26 French Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Navy, which India's Defense Acquisition Council approved last year. The council also approved a plan to purchase three Scorpene submarines, jointly developed by France and Spain.
France has already delivered 36 Rafale fighter jets ordered by the Indian Air Force.
The president will be accompanied by three cabinet ministers: Sébastien Lecorne, Minister of Armed Forces, and Sébastien Lecorne, Minister of Defense. Stéphane Séjourne, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs; Minister of Culture Rashida Dati.
On Friday, President Macron will be the guest of honor at India's Republic Day Parade in New Delhi, which commemorates the enactment of the country's constitution in 1950, nearly three years after gaining independence from British colonial rule.
Prime Minister Modi was the guest of honor at the Bastille Day parade in Paris in July last year, where President Macron called India a key player in “our future”.
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President Macron visited India in November to attend the Group of 20 (G20) summit of developed and developing countries.
According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, India's exports to France totaled $3.06 billion last year, and its imports from France totaled $2.36 billion.
