Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Paris on Wednesday on the final leg of his three-nation European tour. He met French President Emmanuel Macron and discussed issues of bilateral and mutual interests. 

Modi took to microblogging site Twitter to thank the French President for his hospitality. “My visit to France was brief but a very fruitful one. President @EmmanuelMacron and I got the opportunity to discuss various subjects. I thank him and the French Government for the warm hospitality,” tweeted Modi. 

Also Read: France, India call for an end to ‘suffering of people’ in Ukraine

The Indian PM was one among among the first few world leaders to meet President Macron after his re-election last week (he secured 58.54 % of votes against his rival Marine Le Pen) . He had congratulated Macron after his re-election.

“Congratulations to my friend @EmmanuelMacron on being re-elected. I look forward to continue working together to deepen the India-French Strategic Partnership,” Modi had tweeted.

Macron also tweeted about the meeting. “Tonight, with @NarendraModi, we discussed the different ongoing international crises as well as our strategic partnership. We also talked about food security issues and the FARM initiative, in which India will play a key role,” he wrote.

Narendra Modi, Emmanuel Macron discuss Indo-French bilateral issues, global problems

This is the Indian PM’s fifth visit to France after August 2019, June 2017, November 2015 and April 2015, reported The Telegraph. 

Meanwhile, Macron visited India in March 2018. Both leaders also met on the sidelines of the G20 Rome Summit in October 2021, G20 Osaka Summit in June 2019 and G20 Buenos Aires Summit in December 2018.

Both the nations enjoy a robust economic partnership with a bilateral trade of USD 7.86 billion (2020-21) and cumulative Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of USD 9.83 billion since April 2000.

There are over a thousand French businesses present in India across sectors like engineering services, defence, IT, consulting,  and heavy industries. Over 150 Indian companies in France employ more than 7,000 people.

Both the countries called for “an immediate cessation of hostilities” in Ukraine. “France and India expressed their deep concern over the humanitarian crisis and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine,” PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron said in a joint statement.