Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron at Elysee Palace called for enhancing cooperation between the two countries in the sphere of space based maritime domain.
On the concluding day of PM Modi’s France visit, Chandrayaan-3 was launched on GSLV Mark 3 (LVM 3) heavy-lift launch vehicle successfully from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota as per the scheduled launch time.
PM Narendra Modi also said, “In the arena of Space, India and France have had an old and deep cooperation. There have been new agreements between our Space agencies…We can enhance our cooperation in areas like Space-based Maritime Domain Awareness.”
India and France have a rich history of cooperation in the field of space for over 50 years
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the French Space Agency (CNES) have worked closely with each other for almost 50 years on various joint research programmes and launch of satellites. “There have been new agreements between our Space agencies. This includes satellite launch services, TRISHNA satellite to monitor sea and land temperature and atmosphere,” said PM Modi.
As per a joint statement, issued in 2018 during the visit of President Macron to India, ISRO and CNES will realise their third joint satellite mission – TRISHNA which is meant for eco-system stress and water use monitoring as also accommodation of a French instrument of India’s OCEANSAT – 3 satellite.
Cooperation in the field of Defence
The areas of defence cooperation constitutes the principal pillars of India and France’s strategic partnership.
“France’s National Day is the symbol of ‘liberty, equality and fraternity’ for the world,” says PM Modi, who was guest of honour at the Bastille Day Parade.
Later, PM Modi took part in India-France CEO Forum as well.
Earler in the day, in a historic moment, French President Emmanuel Macron bestowed the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is the highest French honour in military or civilian orders. With this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi becomes the first Indian Prime Minister to receive this honour.
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