PM Modi receives warm hug from President Macron at Elsee Palace

Paris, May 4: In a sign of their close friendship and the strong bilateral strategic relations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was warmly welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron at Elysée Palace, with the two leaders shaking hands and sharing a warm hug. President Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron were standing outside Elysée Palace to welcome Prime Minister Modi as he stepped out of the limousine. The two leaders exchanged a warm handshake and then a close hug, symbolizing their close equation and the growing bonhomie between the two sides. President Macron then kept his hand on PM Modi’s shoulder as they stood at the doorway of Elysée Palace to pose for photographers. The two leaders then went inside for a tete-a-tete. The two sides are to hold delegation level talks. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in a tweet, said: “A meeting between two friends. “An opportunity to translate the renewed mandate of President @EmmanuelMacron into a renewed momentum for the India-France Strategic partnership.” The PMO, in a tweet, said: “PM @narendramodi and President @EmmanuelMacron meet in Paris. This meeting will add momentum to the India-France friendship.” As he landed in Paris, the PM said that France is one of India’s strongest partners. In a tweet, the PM said: “Landed in Paris. France is one of India’s strongest partners, with our nations cooperating in diverse areas. “Prime Minister Modi is the first international visitor to meet President Macron who won the French presidential election on April 24. PM Modi’s visit to Paris is a short stopover, before he flies back to India. France currently holds the presidency of the EU, and is keen to involve India in the EU’s Indo-Pacific policy. This is PM Modi’s 4th visit to France since 2015. The multidimensional partnership is spread across avenues including civilian nuclear power, defence, trade and investment, transport, counter-terrorism, space, cybersecurity and digital. The relations between India and France have become closer since the formation of the AUKUS – the Australia, UK and US alliance, for delivering eight nuclear powered submarines to Canberra. The formation of AUKUS last year led Australia to abruptly cancel a multi-billion-dollar conventional submarine deal with France, angering Paris. France has since increasingly relied on India as a trusted and reliable partner. (UNI)