Prime Minister Narendra Modi held official bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron at Villa Kerylos in Nice . This was the first meeting between the two leaders after the elevation of India–France ties to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership.”
During the meeting, both leaders reviewed the full range of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction over the growing cooperation in defence, space, energy, trade, and technology.
The two sides agreed to further deepen defence cooperation with a focus on co-design, co-development, and co-production of advanced defence systems and platforms.
In the field of space, India and France discussed expanding collaboration in human spaceflight, space situational awareness, and private sector participation. In civil nuclear energy, both sides noted new opportunities under India’s SHANTI Act, including cooperation on small and advanced modular reactors.
The leaders also reviewed progress under the Horizon 2047 Roadmap and discussed ways to strengthen economic ties, including a proposal to double bilateral trade in the coming years. They emphasized early implementation of the India–EU Free Trade Agreement.
Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, semiconductors, and deep-tech. An “Innovation Roadmap 2030” and a Joint India–France AI Working Group were also announced.
On people-to-people ties, Prime Minister Modi thanked President Macron for enabling visa-free transit for Indian nationals at French airports. The leaders also discussed expanding student mobility, mutual recognition of qualifications, and opening French university campuses in India.
The two leaders exchanged views on global issues, including the situation in West Asia and Ukraine, and reiterated their commitment to global peace and stability.