New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reaffirmed the depth and reliability of the India–France strategic partnership during a meeting with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron, in New Delhi. The interaction underscored the growing convergence between the two countries across political, economic and strategic domains, ahead of President Macron’s upcoming visit to India.
The Prime Minister highlighted that cooperation between India and France continues to expand beyond traditional areas into innovation, advanced technology and education. He noted that the partnership is marked by mutual trust and sustained engagement, reflecting a shared vision on regional and global matters. The discussions also covered a range of key international and regional developments of common interest, signalling close coordination on emerging global challenges.
The meeting holds added significance as both countries observe the India–France Year of Innovation, an initiative aimed at strengthening collaboration in cutting-edge fields. Innovation-driven cooperation is increasingly seen as a central pillar of bilateral ties, complementing long-standing engagement in defence, space and civil nuclear energy.
Prime Minister Modi expressed confidence in the future trajectory of the relationship and said he looks forward to welcoming President Macron to India soon. The anticipated visit is expected to further deepen strategic and technological cooperation and provide fresh momentum to bilateral initiatives.
President Macron has earlier confirmed plans to visit India next month, linking the trip to enhanced cooperation in artificial intelligence. He has highlighted the progress achieved jointly by India and France in global AI discussions, noting that the two countries have worked closely to shape international dialogue in this critical area.
As part of this collaboration, New Delhi is set to host the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 on February 19 and 20. The summit will focus on the global implications of artificial intelligence and is positioned as the first major international AI gathering to be hosted in the Global South, reflecting India’s growing role in shaping technology governance.
The engagement between the Prime Minister and the French President’s adviser follows recent high-level interactions, including discussions between the External Affairs Minister and President Macron in Paris. Together, these exchanges underline a shared commitment to strengthening the India–France partnership amid a rapidly evolving global landscape.
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