New Delhi, Feb 7 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be paying a two-day working visit to the US from February 12-13 at the invitation of President Donald Trump, and also to France from February 10-12 at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron.
During PM Modi’s US visit, he will hold bilateral talks with President Trump in restricted and delegation level, and also senior officials of the Trump administration. PM Modi will also interact with business leaders and the Indian community during his US visit.
“This has been one of our strongest partnerships and the PM’s visit is in line with our engagement with the new administration,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said at a special briefing here.
He said the US visit is expected to give further impetus and direction to the bilateral relationship.
“During the first Trump administration, PM Modi visited the US in 2017 and 2019. PM Modi was among the first world leaders to call Trump and congratulate him on winning the election. And after the inauguration, he called again, and on that occasion they agreed to meet very soon, and that is the promise that is now unfolding,” the FS said.
He said that EAM Jaishankar visited the US as special envoy of the PM for the inauguration, and the Quad foreign ministers meeting took place then, as well as the first bilateral between EAM and the new US Secretary of State Marc Rubio.
The Defence Ministers and NSAs have also been in touch on both sides.
There is a close rapport between the two leaders from the first term, and there is obvious convergence of interests, with the agenda focused on trade, commerce, defence, technology, counter terrorism, the Indo-Pacific and people to people ties, he said.
The FS said the 5.4 million strong Indian community and the Indian students there strengthen the bonds between the two nations immeasurably.
The PM’s visit will give a strong impetus to the relationship. A Joint Statement is to be adopted at the end of the visit, he added.
Ahead of the US trip, PM Modi will visit France from February 10-12 where he will co-chair the AI Action Summit along with President Emmanuel Macron of France.
While in France, the PM will visit Marseilles along with President Macron, and also Cadarache, where the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor is located, the FS said.
After the AI Summit the two sides will hold bilateral talks. PM Modi and President Macron will address the India-France CEOs Forum and hold talks in restricted and delegational level format.
The two leaders will travel to Marseilles on February 11 evening, where President Macron will host dinner for him.
On February 12 the two leaders will visit the Mazargues War Cemetery which is maintained by the Commonwealth, to pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who died fighting during World War I.
The two leaders will jointly inaugurate a new consulate general of India in Marseilles, which will help a number of Indian nationals and PIOs who live and work in south of France, the FS said.
In the final part of the programme, they will visit Cadarache, where the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor is located. India is partner along with some other countries in the project.
UNI RN