French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian arrived in India for a four-day official visit on April 12, 2021.
He was welcomed by Union External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar and the two leaders later also held delegation-level talks.
This is the first high-level physical interaction between India and France since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Jean-Yves Le Drian held delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House, Delhi pic.twitter.com/B1BhNIw5uK
— ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2021
Key Details
•The French Foreign Affairs Minister and Indian EAM held talks on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.
•The talks also involved discussions on key international issues of concern such as Myanmar, Iran and Afghanistan's peace process.
•Another key focus of the discussions was the Indo-Pacific region.
•Following the talks, EAM Jaishankar tweeted saying had a comfortable, substantive and productive discussion with FM Jean-Yves Le Drian. He added that India and France will advance their shared post-COVID agenda through close collaboration.
A comfortable, substantive and productive discussion with FM @JY_LeDrian. India and France will advance their shared post-COVID agenda through close collaboration. pic.twitter.com/JcyJgRSDnD
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 13, 2021
•The French Minister is expected to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well. He will also participate in the Raisina Dialogue.
French Minister for Europe & Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian arrives in New Delhi for his official visit: Ministry of External Affairs https://t.co/1QzDEZlyk9
— ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2021
•He will also hold talks with Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar during a panel discussion on Climate Change.
•The Minister is also expected to visit ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru and he is expected to make announcements of new joint endeavours in the space sector and also start a dialogue on emerging security challenges in space.
SignificanceAccording to the External Affairs Ministry, the French Minister's visit is expected to pave the way for further strengthening of the partnership between the two countries across trade, defence, climate, migration and mobility, education and health sectors in the post-Covid context. The French Minister is expected to announce France's decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans initiative launched by PM Narendra Modi. |
Background
India and France enjoy a strategic partnership that dates back to 1998. The partnership has been marked by regular high-level exchanges and growing cooperation in diverse areas.
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