“A good discussion on regional and global issues in line with our strategic partnership.”
New Delhi:
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his French counterpart Stéphane Séjourn and discussed a range of regional and global issues.
Held in the spirit of the enduring India-France strategic partnership, the meeting focused on key matters concerning the two countries.
“It was great to meet French Foreign Minister @steph_sejourne. Had a good discussion on regional and global issues in line with our strategic partnership. Look forward to staying in touch,” Mr Jaishankar said in a post on Twitter.
This conversation between the two foreign ministers took place at a time when French President Emmanuel Macron is on a state visit to India on the occasion of Republic Day.
Macron, who reached India on Thursday, held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jaipur.
PM Modi said that it is a matter of great pride that the President of France is participating in the 75th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.
In a post on Twitter, PM Modi wrote, “Welcome to India, my friend President @EmmanuelMacron. I am glad that President Macron started his India visit from Jaipur, Rajasthan, a city of rich culture, heritage and talented people. It is a matter of great pride that he will be taking part in our Republic Day celebrations in Delhi tomorrow, 26th January. His presence not only strengthens the ties between our countries but also enhances our shared sense of friendship and cooperation. It also adds an important chapter to history.
This important visit of President Macron will culminate in the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between India and France.
Macron and PM Modi have participated in a series of high-profile meetings throughout 2023, underscoring the strength and depth of bilateral relations.
Their interactions spanned various global platforms including the COP 28 summit in Dubai, the G20 Leaders Summit and the G7 summit in Hiroshima. Notably, President Macron was also the guest of honor at the Bastille Day celebrations in France in July 2023.
This visit of President Macron is the sixth time that a French leader has been invited as the chief guest on India’s Republic Day. The tradition began with President Jacques Chirac in 1976, followed by Valéry Giscard d’Estaing in 1980, Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008, and François Hollande in 2016.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
