Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from July 13-15 to take forward cooperation with both countries in areas ranging from defence and security to energy.
Modi's visit comes at a time when India and France mark 25 years of strategic partnership. Modi’s visit will “provide an opportunity to chart the course of the partnership for the future across diverse sectors such as strategic, cultural, scientific, academic and economic cooperation," the External Affairs ministry said.
Modi France Visit
PM Modi will be the guest of honour at the Bastille Day Parade on July 14. The French National Day, or Bastille Day, occupies a special place in the French consciousness as it commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison during the French Revolution in 1789. The Bastille Day parade is the highlight of the celebrations.
Modi will also hold formal talks with President Emmanuel Macron, following which the latter will host a State Banquet as well as a private dinner.
Modi will also have interaction with the entire political leadership of France, including the French prime minister, the presidents of the senate (Upper House) and the national assembly (Lower House), officials said, adding that a key focus of his visit will be trade and economy with a CEO forum to be held comprising leading names from the two countries.
Jayesh Bhawsar, President, Indian-Gujarati Cultural Association, in Paris said, "All Indians in Paris are excited about the arrival of PM Modi. We have prepared a unique 'pagadi', incorporating the colours of the flags of India and France, which we want to present to PM Modi during his visit."
Riots in Paris
On widespread riots in France following the killing of a 17-year-old boy, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said that it is their internal matter. "The riots in Paris is their internal matter. From our perspective, we do not see any impact on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit. We have never had any doubt right throughout the course and we have been preparing for it completely."
Since the teen's killing, protesters have come out in large numbers every night and have engaged in widespread rioting across French cities.
Modi's visit to UAE
After concluding his visit in France, Prime Minister Modi will reach the United Arab Emirates on July 15, where he will meet the President of UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. "We have all seen significant transformation taking place in the India-UAE relationship. The bilateral trade is currently very strong, $85 billion dollars between India and UAE. Making UAE, India's third largest trading partner last year and India's second-largest export destination," Kwatra said.
India and the UAE are also cooperating very closely on COP 28, which will be held in the UAE later this year, Kwatra added.
