French Foreign Minister Jean-Claude Le Drian is visiting India for three days starting today. The visit, according to the French Foreign Ministry, is aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation between France and India, as well as promoting French Indo-Pacific strategic cooperation and enhancing dialogue in the region. On the first day of his visit, Le Drian held talks with Indian Foreign Minister Sujeet Sang, Le Drian today and also met with Indian Prime Minister Moody.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Claude Le Drian held talks today with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. France and India issued a joint announcement on the talks, which covered various areas of bilateral strategic cooperation between France and India, the promotion of cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, and regional hotspots of concern to both sides. India, as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, also discussed with France cooperation within the framework of the UN Security Council.
Le Drian also met with Indian Prime Minister Moody today. According to Indian Foreign Minister Sajithan, the visit of the French Foreign Minister opens a new path of cooperation with France, which will help to promote cooperation in trade, defense, climate, migration, circulation, health, education, and especially health in the context of the new coronavirus epidemic.
On Wednesday, Le Drian will participate in the Raisina Multilateral Dialogue meeting, which began in 2016 and is held annually in New Delhi. Le Drian will also hold a tripartite meeting with Sugarson and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne. The talks focus on multilateral cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, according to the French embassy in India.
During Le Drian’s visit, the French Embassy in India is leading a climate conference to promote international efforts on climate change. In addition to Le Drian, Sugarson, India’s environment, forestry and climate ministers will deliver speeches to reinforce the activities planned for the Year of Environmental Cooperation between France and India. This year of French-Indian environmental activities in the framework of the 15th Kunming Climate Summit to the 26th Glasgow Summit has been planned to start from the beginning of 2021.
In terms of cultural cooperation, Le Drian will promote cooperation with Indian cinema and emphasize gender equality in the film industry, according to AFP.
Le Drian will visit Bangalore in the southern Indian state of Karnataka on Thursday, where there are mechanisms for cooperation in the health sector, biosciences and space. Le Drian is scheduled to visit in particular the Human Space Flight Center (HSFC) of the Indian Space Research Organization ISRO. According to a French press release, bilateral cooperation in this field has been in place for some time, but new plans will be born.
Of course, the economic dimension is also important, says AFP, and in Bangalore, Le Drian meets with Indian consortia, entrepreneurs and investors, before concluding his visit with the “France-India Bangalore Technology Networking Event” to promote technological innovation and links and development between Indian and French startups.
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