Paris: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held part of bilateral discussions onboard the presidential aircraft while travelling from Paris to Marseille, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, noting India-France “ties literally touched new heights”.
Briefing the media in France on the ongoing visit, Misri said the two leaders exchanged views on recent geopolitical developments in Europe, West Asia and the Indo-Pacific, and discussed issues of global and regional importance.
Modi and Macron on Tuesday co-chaired the AI Action Summit in Paris, attended the India-France CEO’s Forum, and later in the evening travelled to Marseille.
They travelled to Marseille in “the French presidential aircraft”, the FS said, terming it “an exceptional gesture by President Macron, emblematic of deep personal trust between the two leaders, and remarkable confidence they have in each other”.
“You can say India-France ties literally touched new heights,” Misri said, adding that some parts of bilateral discussions took place in Marseille too.
“The discussion covered an entire gamut of our deep and diverse strategic partnership,” he said.
They reviewed the bilateral cooperation in areas of defence, space and civil nuclear cooperation, health and people-to-people ties, the foreign secretary said.
AI was a “major area” of bilateral discussion between the two sides, he said.
Modi, Macron expect number of Indian students in France to rise up to 10,000 in 2025
The number of Indian students in France is expected to reach an unprecedented 10,000 this year, according to a joint statement issued by India and France on Wednesday during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris.
Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron called for enhancing trade and investment ties between the two countries and committed to further deepening their engagement in the Indo-Pacific and various global forums and initiatives.
Both leaders welcomed the successful launch of the International Classes Scheme last year, a joint statement issued after the meeting here said.
Under the scheme, Indian students are taught French as a foreign language, and methodology and academic content in highly reputed French universities in France during one academic year, before entering their chosen curricula in France.
“It will create conducive conditions to increase student mobility and meet the target of 30,000 Indian students in France by 2030. In that regard, they welcomed the rising number of Indian students in France, with 2025 figures expected to reach an unprecedented 10,000,” the joint statement said.
Both leaders also welcomed the operationalisation of the Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) under the India-France Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA) which will facilitate two-way mobility of youth and professionals, further strengthening the bonds of friendship between people of India and France.
Both leaders stressed the conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster cooperation in the fields of skill development, vocational education and training which will create opportunities for both countries to strengthen cooperation in this field.
Modi and Macron launched an India-France Roadmap on Artificial Intelligence (AI), rooted in philosophical convergence in their approaches focusing on the development of safe, open, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence.
“They welcomed the inclusion of Indian startups at the French Startup Incubator Station F,” the statement said.
