To co-develop, produce modular reactors
New Delhi:In an "exceptional" gesture reflecting the personal rapport, trust and confidence between India and France, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron flew together from the French capital Paris to the southern French port city of Marseille in the wee hours of Wednesday (IST) onboard the French presidential aircraft, where the two leaders held initial talks "on the full spectrum of bilateral relations and key global and regional issues". The two nations later announced 10 pacts and outcomes.
On landing in Marseille, the two leaders held delegation-level talks on a range of sectors, including defence, civil nuclear energy, space, trade, connectivity, technology and innovation, AI, health and people-to-people ties that are part of the India-France strategic partnership.
The talks between the two leaders further continued at a dinner hosted by Macron for Modi in the coastal town of Cassis, near Marseille. Later on Wednesday afternoon (IST), the two leaders jointly inaugurated the new Indian consulate in Marseille. Both leaders also visited the Mazargues War Cemetery in Marseille this morning and paid tribute to the Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting to save Europe during the two World Wars.
Both Modi and Macron also "stressed the importance of the India-Middle East Europe Corridor (IMEC) to foster connectivity, sustainable growth trajectories and access to clean energy across these regions and acknowledged the strategic location of Marseille in the Mediterranean Sea", amid reports that Mumbai and Marseilles could be the two ends of the ambitious corridor.
The 10 pacts and outcomes announced, included the inking of a letter of intent on co-design, co-development and co-production of small modular reactors (SMR) and advanced modular reactors (AMR) to further bilateral civil nuclear cooperation. A joint declaration on artificial intelligence (AI), with the two leaders launching an India-France roadmap on it, was also announced. The two sides also decided to deepen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region through "triangular" development cooperation in third countries that would be "demand-driven".
On the keenly watched defence cooperation, a joint statement released later mentioned that Modi "invited the French Army to take a closer look" at India's Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) system and "emphasised that an acquisition of this system by France will be another milestone in Indo-French defence ties".
The two sides also discussed the "possible integration of the integrated combat system (ICS) into the future P75-AS submarines". It may be noted that the two sides have been interested in the proposed construction of three additional submarines under the P75 programme.
Both leaders also hailed the bilateral collaboration on the successful construction and commissioning of the (P75 – Kalvari) six French Scorpene submarines in India into the Indian Navy and the ongoing work for "integration of DRDO developed Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) into P75-Scorpene submarines".
However, there was no direct mention in the joint statement of India's plans to acquire 26 Rafale-Marine fighter aircraft for the Indian Navy from France after India had earlier acquired 36 Rafale fighter aircraft from France for the Indian Air Force, but it is expected that the proposed deal will be finalised soon.
On civil nuclear cooperation, the joint statement mentioned, "The Prime Minister and the French President stressed that nuclear energy is an essential part of the energy mix for strengthening energy security and transitioning towards a low-carbon economy. Both leaders acknowledged the India-France civil nuclear ties and efforts in cooperation on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy..."
The two leaders jointly visited the international thermonuclear experimental reactor nearby Cadarache, the statement said .
Later at a special briefing, foreign secretary Vikram Misri also announced that India will host the AI Summit next year.
The foreign secretary also announced that next year will mark the "India-France Year of Innovation", with the two leaders jointly launching the logo for it. Other outcomes of the visit included pacts on digital sciences and another for hosting 10 Indian startups at the French startup incubator station. "The leaders also called for enhancing trade and investment ties," New Delhi said.
In another special gesture, Macron bid farewell to Modi at the end of the visit with a warm embrace and accompanied him till almost the steps leading to the aircraft before signing off with a "namaste" as PM Modi was about to enter the aircraft for his onward journey to Washington.
