Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron at Villa Kerylos in Nice, marking the first meeting between the two leaders since India-France ties were elevated to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership”.
The discussions covered a broad spectrum of bilateral cooperation, with both sides expressing satisfaction over the depth of defence ties and agreeing to further strengthen collaboration in co-design, co-development and co-production of advanced defence platforms and technologies.
According to an official statement, the two leaders also reviewed cooperation in the space sector, noting the long-standing partnership and agreeing to expand engagement in human spaceflight and space situational awareness. They also discussed increasing private sector participation in space-related initiatives.
In the civil nuclear energy domain, both sides noted that India’s SHANTI Act opens new avenues for cooperation, including in small and advanced modular reactors.
Reviewing progress under the Horizon 2047 roadmap, PM Modi and Macron discussed ways to deepen cooperation in economic growth, technology, innovation, talent mobility, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. They noted steady growth in bilateral trade and agreed to establish a high-level mechanism to double trade within five years.
The leaders also called for the early implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, describing it as a key opportunity to expand trade and investment. Cooperation in sectors such as SMEs, aviation and railways was also discussed, along with the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics in Kanpur.
Both sides welcomed the launch of a Dialogue on Economic Security and agreed to enhance resilience in critical supply chains, particularly in the area of critical minerals.
A key outcome of the meeting was the adoption of the “Innovation Roadmap 2030”, aimed at providing long-term direction to bilateral cooperation in technology and innovation. The two leaders also agreed to establish a Joint India-France AI Working Group to deepen collaboration in artificial intelligence.
The statement said the joint inauguration of Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice and Modi’s upcoming participation at VivaTech in Paris have further strengthened cooperation in deep-tech sectors including semiconductors, agri-tech, med-tech, renewable energy, defence and space.
Both leaders also welcomed the growing acceptance of UPI in France and the signing of 19 agreements between institutions from the two countries’ innovation ecosystems.
On people-to-people ties, PM Modi thanked Macron for the swift operationalisation of visa-free transit for Indian nationals at French airports. The leaders also discussed easing mobility for students and professionals and expanding mutual recognition of educational qualifications. Modi invited French universities to establish campuses in India under the National Education Policy.
They also agreed to enhance cultural cooperation, including collaboration between museums and heritage institutions such as the National Maritime Heritage Complex in Lothal.
The two leaders exchanged views on global issues, including developments in West Asia and the conflict in Ukraine. PM Modi also expressed appreciation for France’s engagement with India ahead of the upcoming G7 summit in Evian.
Following the talks, President Macron hosted a lunch in honour of the Prime Minister. The leaders also viewed artworks created by French artists during a residency in Jaipur, reflecting cultural exchange between the two countries.
