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Emmanuel Lenin. (Photo: Reuters)
The envoy said the two countries are working on a roadmap to produce next-generation military equipment and technologies
French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenin said on Tuesday that India and France agreed to develop new-generation military equipment as part of a long-term roadmap during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris.
The envoy also said there was a “real” political consensus in France on strengthening ties with India, citing Modi’s meetings with French Senate President Gerard Larch, French National Assembly Speaker Yael Braun-Bivet and Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.
It shows that when it comes to India in France, there is a real consensus. There is no difference. “Everyone is very supportive and this is one of the trademarks of this partnership,” Lenin told a news briefing.
Prime Minister Modi visited Paris on July 13-14, during which both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding comprehensive strategic cooperation, including in defence.
Defense cooperation has always been very important to the two countries because we feel that in order to be independent, we must be secure. To be safe, Lenin said, we need good equipment and technology.
The Defense Acquisition Board, chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, approved on July 13 the purchase of 26 Rafale-M (Naval Variant) submarines and the three Scorpene submarines from France.
The envoy said the two countries are working on a roadmap to produce next-generation military equipment and technologies.
We have decided to work and participate in the development of the next generation of equipment. He said, without going into details, that we are working on a road map in the field of defense.
At the same time, Lenin said that defense cooperation between the two sides was far beyond one or two platforms as both sides were looking to expand it significantly.
Ambassador Lenin described Modi’s visit to Paris as a reflection of the “strong trust and partnership” between the two countries.
“It was a very good and important visit to send a strong message of trust and friendship,” he added.
On the 1,650-megawatt nuclear power project in Jaitapur, Maharashtra, the envoy said some progress had been made in this field.
The two sides are in talks to resolve all issues including those related to civil nuclear liability, cost and commercial technical issues.
During Modi’s visit, the two sides agreed to adopt a 25-year roadmap to set the course for bilateral relations until 2047 to celebrate the centenary of India’s independence and the centenary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The roadmap for the next 25 years will mean a century of bilateral relations. Lenin said that the road map is very ambitious.
He said the two sides are committed to expanding cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region as well.
After talks between Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, the two sides unveiled a roadmap between India, France and the Indo-Pacific region to enhance cooperation in the region.
“Our two countries believe in a free, open, inclusive, safe and peaceful Indo-Pacific,” the roadmap noted.
“We believe that the partnership between India and France will be a fundamental pillar of interdependent and interdependent arrangements in the Indo-Pacific region and indispensable for a peaceful and prosperous future for the Indo-Pacific region,” the statement said.
(This story was not edited by the News18 staff and was published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
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