National/ International/ Business Desk
13 February
Ludhiana
Sandeep Dhand
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron shared a warm embrace at the Marseille airport in France, marking a strong bond between the two leaders. After completing his visit to France, Prime Minister Modi left for Washington, DC, for the second leg of his journey, where he will be visiting the United States at the invitation of President Donald Trump.
During his visit to France, Prime Minister Modi and President Macron jointly inaugurated the new Consulate of India in Marseille. The two leaders pressed a button to officially open the consulate, an event that was met with great enthusiasm from the crowd. Many attendees carried the national flags of both India and France, celebrating the strengthening ties between the two nations.
Before the inauguration, both leaders paid tribute to Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the First World War. They visited the historic Mazargues cemetery, where they laid wreaths and honored the soldiers’ contributions. Later, they also interacted with some members of the crowd gathered for the event.
In their discussions, Prime Minister Modi and President Macron emphasized the importance of enhancing trade and investment between India and France. They also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and other global forums.
One of the key topics of their meeting was artificial intelligence (AI). Both leaders stressed the need for responsible AI development and agreed to take concrete steps to ensure that AI brings positive social, economic, and environmental benefits. A joint statement issued after the meeting highlighted that their discussions covered a broad range of bilateral, regional, and global issues.
Departure for the US
After completing his engagements in France, Prime Minister Modi departed for Washington, DC, to continue his diplomatic tour. His visit to the US is expected to focus on strengthening India-US relations and exploring new areas of cooperation.
The visit to France highlighted the strong and growing partnership between India and France, with both countries reaffirming their commitment to working together in various sectors, from trade to technology and global security.