PM Modi and President Macron reiterated commitment to strengthen defence cooperation through partnership in the design and expansion of production in India…reports Asian Lite News
Following the working lunch meeting with the French President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that they would take India-France relations to newer heights of progress.
PM Modi took to his social media ‘X’, and tweeted, “A very productive lunch meeting with President @EmmanuelMacron. We discussed a series of topics and look forward to ensuring India-France relations scale new heights of progress.”
Macron arrived in New Delhi a day ago to attend the two-day-long G20 Summit hosted by India under its Presidency.
Macron also held bilateral meetings over the two-day summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva among others.
He left for Bangladesh on Sunday afternoon.
A statement from Macron’s office said, “The G20 Summit will enable France’s Head of State to continue his ongoing dialogue with his counterparts from every continent, so as to combat the risks of fragmentation of the world. It will also be an opportunity to make progress in implementing joint responses to the major global challenges that can only be tackled effectively through multilateral action: peace and stability, poverty alleviation, protection of climate and our planet, food security, and digital regulation.”
It further said, “The Summit will also provide an opportunity to follow up on the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact held in Paris last June. This led to the establishment of the Paris Agenda for People and the Planet, providing a framework for collective action to ensure that no country has to choose between fighting poverty and protecting the planet.”
Defence Industrial Roadmap
PM Modi and President Macron reiterated their commitment to strengthen defence cooperation through partnership in the design and expansion of production in India and called for early finalisation of the Defence Industrial Roadmap.
According to the joint statement, India and France “reiterated their commitment to strengthen the defence cooperation through partnership in design, development, testing and manufacture of advanced defence technologies and platforms, and expand production in India, including for third countries in Indo-Pacific and beyond. In this context, they also called for early finalisation of the Defence Industrial Roadmap.”
“Acknowledging the strength of the India-France partnership, founded in deep trust, shared values, belief in sovereignty and strategic autonomy, a resolute commitment to international law and principles enshrined in the UN Charter, an abiding faith in multilateralism and a mutual pursuit of a stable multi-polar world, both leaders emphasized the need to expand their collaboration to address regional and global challenges. They reiterated their unwavering commitment to collectively serve as a force of good, carrying the message of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ i.e. ‘one earth, one family, one future’, during tumultuous times reshaping the global order,” the joint statement read.
With the ‘Horizon 2047’ Roadmap, the Indo-Pacific Roadmap and other outcomes during PM Modi’s visit serving as recent points of reference, the two leaders discussed overall progress and next steps on the implementation of the new and ambitious goals for cooperation in areas of defence, space, nuclear energy, digital public infrastructure, critical technology, climate change, education, and people-to-people contacts.
Both the leaders also carried forward their discussions on India-France partnership in the Indo-Pacific region and Africa, including in infrastructure, connectivity, energy, biodiversity, sustainability and industrial projects. Both the leaders underlined their role of providers of solutions for the Indo-Pacific through their cooperation in the framework of the International Solar Alliance, launched by India and France, and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. (ANI)
Macron Backs ‘Deep Reforms’ of Int’l Institutions
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for the expansion of the UN Security Council and “deep reforms” in all international institutions, asserting that should reflect the “current realities” of the world, in terms of demography and economy.
“We support deep reforms of global governance, Security Council but as well the World Bank and the IMF, they have to reflect today’s realities in terms of demography and economy as well. And then we want to increase the available tools. That’s why we want to replenish the World Bank and France is supporting that so that the emerging countries have a greater role to play…” the French President said while addressing the press conference on the culmination of G20 Summit in India.
He also stated that France expects greater commitments by emerging countries for restructuring the debt of African countries.
“Next the IMF, we expect some greater commitments by the emerging countries when it comes to restructuring the debt of African countries. We stand ready to do more. And we said it today. So it is the very same agenda, greater financing, and mobilization around the world. France upgraded its commitments and we reached 0.5 per cent of our GDP allocated to development projects.”
“And we also want the same to happen at the international level. And this is the reason why we’re committed to the replenishment of IFAD- The International Fund for Agricultural Development. And the meeting will be taking place in December. And I would like to thank President Alvaro Lario of IFAD for being with us today…”, the French President added.
Macron, who arrived in India on Saturday for the G20 Summit, also talked about upholding principles of sovereignty, and territorial integrity of States regarding the Ukraine war.
The French President said, “I thank PM Modi. Faithful to its principles India did its utmost for the G-20 presidency to serve unity and peace and send across the message of unity while Russia is still waging its aggression in Ukraine. So here I would like to thank Prime Minister Modi and say once again that from stands alongside India”.
Emphasizing that G20 is not a forum for political discussions, the French President said in reference to the Ukraine war while reiterating that the bloc supports just and lasting peace. (ANI)
