French President Emmanuel Macron on January 26, assured India that the hosts of the 2024 Olympics will back them to organise the multi-sport event in the country in the near future.
At the outset of his address during a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, Macron expressed that he is looking forward to building stronger cooperation on sports with India. “We will be delighted to build a stronger cooperation on sports with you. We will definitely support your intention to organise the Olympic Games in India for the future…,” Macron said.
The French President was the chief guest at the 75th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on January 26. Macron’s state visit marks France’s sixth participation, the highest of any other nation, as chief guest on India’s Republic Day.
#WATCH | Delhi: French President Emmanuel Macron says, "… We will be delighted to build a stronger cooperation on sports with you. We will definitely support your intention to organize the Olympic Games in India for the future." (26.01) pic.twitter.com/zQt2pjDhVw
— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2024
Meanwhile, France is the host of the 2024 Olympics which will take place from July 26 and will conclude on August 11. Soon after the end of the Olympics, the Paralympics will start from August 28 till September 8 in Paris.
Earlier on January 19 while inaugurating the Khelo India games, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that the Government was working towards hosting host the 2036 Olympic Games. The PM also underlined efforts by his Government in the last 10 years to provide international exposure to athletes and provide an ecosystem for them to flourish. In the 2020-21 Tokyo Olympics India achieved its best performance while it continued its superlative performance in the Asian Games and the Para Asian Games.
India- France agree to deepen integration in defence industrial sectors
India and France have agreed to further deepen the integration between the two countries’ defence industrial sectors and to work together to identify opportunities for co-design, co-development and co-production.
“In a reflection of the deep mutual trust and confidence between the two countries, and drawing strength from their decades-old cooperation in advanced technologies, President Macron and Prime Minister Modi reiterated their commitment to further deepening the integration between the two countries’ respective defence industrial sectors and to work together to identify opportunities for co-design, co-development, co-production with the objective of not only fulfilling the defence needs of the Indian armed forces, but also of providing a viable and reliable source of defence supplies to other friendly countries,” as per India-France joint statement following French President Emmanuel Macron’s State visit to India for the Republic Day celebrations.
During the visit, PM Modi, French President Macron noted that defence industrial collaboration, especially from the design stage, not only creates quality jobs for the youth and advances the Prime Minister’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, but also supports a broader progress in scientific, technological, digital and material sciences fields to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat for 2047. Towards this end, the two leaders welcomed the adoption of an ambitious Defence Industrial Roadmap.
In the broader context of the ambitious collaboration, and as more detailed in the industrial roadmap, they welcomed the progress in the establishment of the MRO for LEAP engines in India by Safran and the plans to add MRO for Rafale engines, a comprehensive helicopter partnership with a Joint Venture for IMRH engine between HAL and Safran, and the Scorpene submarines constructed in India, including indigenisation, as per the India-France joint statement.
They also welcomed the discussions between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the French Directorate General of Armament (DGA), and intend to conclude an Arrangement MoU in an early timeframe.
PM Modi, French President Macron lauded the all-round progress in the defence and security partnership, which is a principal pillar of the partnership and a source of strengthening their countries’ sovereignty and strategic autonomy, and for advancing peace in the region.
It extends from intelligence and information exchange to exercises and equipment and across all domains from the seabed to space. They welcomed the outcomes and the directions set by the 5th Annual Defence Dialogue chaired by the two Defence Ministers, and the Maritime Cooperation Dialogue held in October 2023, as per the joint statement.
They expressed satisfaction with the increasing complexity and interoperability of India-France joint defence exercises across air, sea and land and agreed to consider a distinct joint tri-services exercise. They also discussed actively increasing capacities, particularly in the maritime domain, by joining hands with other like-minded countries.
Appreciating growing counter-terrorism, intelligence cooperation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron have appreciated the growing counter-terrorism and intelligence cooperation between the two countries, including through the mechanism of the India-France Joint Working Group on counter-terrorism.
The two countries have welcomed the formalisation of cooperation between the National Security Guard (NSG) of India and the Groupe d’intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale (GIGN) of France for agency-level cooperation in the field of counterterrorism, as per the India-France joint statement following President Macron’s state visit to India for the Republic Day celebrations.
Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron reaffirmed their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and shared their resolve to stand together in the common fight against global terrorism.
They further agreed that no country should provide safe haven to those who finance, plan, support, or commit terrorist acts. The leaders also called for concerted action against all terrorists, including through designations or individuals affiliated with groups that are listed by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee.
The two sides emphasised the importance of upholding international standards on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, consistent with Financial Action Task Force recommendations. Both countries reiterated their commitment to work together in FATF, NMFT and other multilateral platforms.
Both leaders strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 and expressed solidarity with the people of Israel. Condemning the huge loss of civilian lives in the ongoing conflict, they emphasised the need to respect international humanitarian law and to create conditions, including through a humanitarian ceasefire, for aid to flow to the affected population in the Gaza region.
Both leaders also called for an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The two leaders reaffirmed that a political process leading to a two-state solution for the Israeli and Palestinian people is required for lasting peace and stability in the region, as per the joint statement.
They also expressed grave concern at the possibility of further expansion of the conflict in the region, including in the Red Sea, which already has a significant economic impact in the world.
PM Modi, French President Macron recalled the utmost importance of upholding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and of respecting the international law of the sea. They had detailed conversations aimed at coordinating their efforts in that region in this regard. They expressed deep concern over the war in Ukraine and its tragic humanitarian consequences.
They underscored the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with international law, and consistent with the principles of the UN Charter. They underscored the growing impact of this war on the global economic system and food security, with consequences predominantly affecting developing and least developed countries, as per the joint statement.
(with inputs from ANI)
