Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Paris on Monday, where he attended a welcome dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace ahead of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit. Upon his arrival, President Macron greeted PM Modi warmly, calling him a “friend” and embracing him.
Sharing a video of the Indian Prime Minister’s arrival at the Elysee Palace, Mr. Macron posted on X, stating, “Welcome to Paris, my friend @narendramodi. ”
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During the dinner, PM Modi engaged with several world leaders present for the AI Summit, including US Vice President JD Vance. This was the first encounter between the two leaders since Mr. Vance took office last month. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) also released photos of their conversations during the event.
As he landed in Paris, the Indian community gave a grand reception to PM Modi. Footage showed him waving and shaking hands with them. Showing his appreciation, he remarked, “A memorable welcome in Paris! The cold weather didn’t deter the Indian community from showing their affection this evening. Grateful to our diaspora and proud of them for their accomplishments. ”
This is PM Modi’s sixth trip to France.
In a statement prior to his departure, the Prime Minister emphasized that the visit’s bilateral segment would provide a chance to evaluate progress on the 2047 Horizon Roadmap for the India-France strategic partnership alongside President Macron.
After the AI Summit, PM Modi and President Macron will head to Marseille, where the French President will host a dinner in honor of the Indian leader. On Wednesday, they will visit the Mazargues War Cemetery in Marseille to pay homage to Indian soldiers who fought in World War I. Maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the cemetery is the burial site of many Indian soldiers who fought on French soil during the conflict.
Furthermore, both leaders will together inaugurate the Consulate General of India in Marseille.
The visit will wrap up with an important tour of Cadarache, the location of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). This large-scale collaborative effort aims to create clean nuclear fusion energy, with India playing an essential role.
AI Summit
The AI Action Summit, scheduled for today, will gather global leaders and tech industry executives to discuss the future of artificial intelligence. The summit aims to encourage international cooperation on the ethical and responsible development of AI technologies, which could significantly influence the global economy.
Previous editions of the AI Summit took place in the UK in 2023 and South Korea in 2024.
