A large crowd gathered on the streets of Paris to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who landed at Orly Airport on Monday to co-chair the crucial AI Action Summit and hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron.
A colourful Indian origin crowd waving the Tricolour while beating the dhol and other traditional instruments singing "Modi Ki Guarantee", waved in greeting with PM Modi who stood in his observation.
A section of the crowd chanted "Modi, Modi" slogans, a welcome in true form.
The crowd saw an appreciation for it from the prime minister who gave folded hand greeting to them.
An old Sikh praised the Prime Minister by saying, "We are highly happy that you are celebrating the birth anniversary of the Sikh Guru and Sahibzade. You are the only PM who thinks about the people of all religions."
During his brief visit, he interacted with people gathered there to have a glimpse of him.
Before leaving, PM Modi shared the key highlights of his visit that aims to strengthen India's global ties and put the spotlight on critical areas of international collaboration.
"At the invitation of President Macron, I will visit France from February 10 to 12. In Paris, I look forward to co-chairing the AI Action Summit – an important gathering of world leaders and global tech CEOs. Our discussions will focus on fostering a collaborative approach to artificial intelligence, targeted at driving innovation but anchored in the principles that ensure this powerful technology serves the public good in an inclusive, secure, and trustworthy manner," he said in a statement.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the bilateral aspect of the visit.
"The discussions with President Macron will allow us to assess the progress made under the 2047 Horizon Roadmap, a comprehensive plan to deepen the India-France strategic partnership," PM Modi said.
We will also visit the historic city of Marseille, where I will inaugurate India's first consulate in France. I also look forward to visiting the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, a vital project that has the goal of harnessing energy through fusion for benefit to all nations, as India is a key member of the consortium there.
As part of the trip, PM Modi is to pay his respects to Indian soldiers who lost their lives during World Wars at the Mazargues War Cemetery in Marseille, marking India's eternal bond with France.
After the European leg, PM Modi will visit the US for a two-day visit to further strengthen the bilateral relations between India and the US under the President Donald Trump dispensation.
"I look forward to meeting my friend, President Trump. Although this will be our first meeting since his recent re-election, I fondly recall the progress we made during his first term in building a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership between our two nations," he said.
Looking ahead, PM Modi said that the forthcoming U.S. visit, precisely under these circumstances, is an opportunity to take forward into the future the fruits of all the progress made in the past.
This visit will focus on developing a forward-looking agenda that deepens our partnership, especially in key areas like technology, trade, defense, energy, and supply chain resilience. We work together to secure the best for our peoples, and this trip will certainly further shape the world into being a better place," he said at the closing statement.
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