On the last leg of his four-nation tour, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived in Paris where he will hold talks with newly-elected French President Emmanuel Macron on a host of key issues like terrorism, India's NSG membership bid and climate change.
"Reached France for a vital visit to enhance ties with one of our most important strategic partners," Prime Minister Modi tweeted after landing in the French capital.
He reached France after wrapping up his visit to Russia during which he held talks with President Vladimir Putin and attended an international economic forum. Before Russia, Modi also visited Germany and Spain and held talks with the top leadership there.
The meeting between Modi and Macron comes in the backdrop of straining ties between the United States and Europe after US President Donald Trump announced withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord.
"France is one of our most important Strategic Partners. I look forward to meeting President Macron and have discussions on issues of mutual interest," Modi had said ahead of his visit.
"I would be exchanging views with the French President on important global issues including UN Security Council reforms and India's permanent membership of the UN Security Council, India's membership of the various multilateral export control regimes, counter-terrorism cooperation, collaboration on climate change and International Solar Alliance," he had said.
France is India's 9th largest investment partner and a key partner in its development initiatives in the area of defence, space, nuclear and renewable energy, urban development and railways.
"I am committed to substantially strengthening and advancing our multi-faceted partnership with France," Modi had said.
Prime Minister Modi had also called up Macron to congratulate him on his poll victory last month and said he looked forward to work with him to further deepen the bilateral cooperation.
39-year-old Macron created history by becoming the youngest president of France.
Earlier on Friday, Modi attended for the first time the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, an annual business and economic event hosted by the Russian President in city of St. Petersburg.
He also attended a collective meeting of Governors of 16 regions of Russia.
On the sidelines of the event, Modi met UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern, and Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Union Tigran Sargasyan.
Prior to Russia, he visited Germany and Spain.
(With agencies)
