New Delhi: The partnership between India and France stands out as a stabilising force at a time of global uncertainty, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Mumbai on Tuesday, describing the bilateral relationship as “very special”. The two countries have formally elevated their engagement to a Special Global Strategic Partnership.
Wide-ranging bilateral talks between Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron covered sectors including health, defence, critical minerals, science and technology, renewable energy and skilling. Among the major outcomes were an amendment to the protocol on the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, the decision to hold an annual Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue to review the Horizon 2047 Roadmap, and an agreement on the reciprocal deployment of armed forces.
Addressing a joint press conference at Lok Bhavan with Macron by his side, Modi highlighted the depth and scope of the relationship. “The India-France partnership knows no boundaries. It can reach from deep oceans to the tallest mountains,” he said.
Macron echoed the sentiment, underlining shared principles such as respect for the rule of law and opposition to hegemony in the global order. “We will find a new way which is against hegemony. We want to walk together. We want to give a model to the world about how to work together. AI should respect each other, should respect diversity. The algorithms should be transparent,” he said, while pointing to cooperation across defence, science and technology, nuclear energy and high-speed rail.
During his first visit to Mumbai and fourth trip to India, Macron began the day with a jog along Marine Drive, drawing attention from residents along the city’s coastline. The Ministry of External Affairs said the gesture sent a positive message on health and fitness, particularly for young people.
The French President also paid tribute to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, reaffirming France’s firm stance against terrorism. “In the face of terrorism, unity and determination,” he said. Later in the evening, Modi hosted a dinner in his honour. The visit follows Modi’s trip to France last year and marked the 20th meeting between the two leaders.
Macron also held a cinema-themed lunch with film personalities including Anil Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee and Niraj Ghaywan. “Alongside the legends of Indian cinema. Culture brings us together,” he wrote on X. He is scheduled to meet investors in Mumbai before travelling to Delhi.
As part of joint initiatives, Modi and Macron launched the India-France Year of Innovation and the India-France Innovation Network, marked by a cultural programme at the Gateway of India. In a first for the private sector, the two leaders also virtually inaugurated the H125 Helicopter Final Assembly Line at Vemagal in Karnataka, in the presence of the defence ministers of both countries.
Modi further announced the creation of three new institutions, the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health, the Indo-French Centre for Digital Science and Technology, and the National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics. “These are not just institutions, but future-building platforms,” he said.
BI Bureau
