Foreign Minister of France calls on PM, invites him to visit France

The Foreign Minister of France, Mr. Laurent Fabius, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today, and invited him to visit France. Both sides reiterated their commitment to further strengthen and expand the bilateral relationship. 

Welcoming the Minister, Shri Modi remarked that yesterday he had an opportunity to witness the launch of the French satellite, SPOT-7, which was placed in orbit by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from Sriharikota. 

Recalling the strategic and friendly ties between the two countries, the Prime Minister sought French cooperation in the field of urban planning and heritage conservation. Observing that France had provided technical support for the Ahmedabad Heritage Project, Shri Modi said India planned to build heritage cities and 100 new smart cities. France has the expertise to help us in this regard, he added. 

The Prime Minister also sought French cooperation in the fields of tourism, skill development and low-cost defence manufacturing. 

The French Foreign Minister said France was keen to expand the cooperation and the relationship, following the assumption of office by the new Government in India. He discussed the student exchange programme, and further deepening of the technological cooperation between the two countries. The issue of terrorism also figured in the talks. 

The meeting was attended by Smt. Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister; Shri Ajit Doval, the National Security Adviser, Smt. Sujatha Singh, Foreign Secretary; Shri Arun Singh, Ambassador of India to France; Mr. Francois Richier, Ambassador of France to India, and other officials.