New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held wide-ranging discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron aimed at further deepening cooperation between the two countries in key areas such as trade, defence, energy and critical technologies.

Macron arrived in Mumbai early Tuesday on a three-day visit to India. During his stay, he is scheduled to attend the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi and hold talks with the Indian leadership to review and expand the strategic partnership between the two nations.

Following the bilateral talks, the French President is also set to participate in a ceremony marking the launch of the India–France Year of Innovation, an initiative aimed at boosting collaboration in technology, research and innovation-driven sectors.

Macron’s visit comes days after India cleared a long-pending proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets from France under a government-to-government framework, a move described as one of the largest military procurement programmes globally in recent years. Strengthening defence cooperation and enhancing engagement in critical and emerging technologies are understood to be among the priority areas discussed during the talks.

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Earlier in the day, Modi welcomed Macron’s visit in a social media post, expressing confidence that the discussions would elevate bilateral ties and contribute positively to global progress.