Paris/New Delhi, 19 June (H.S.):

French President Emmanuel Macron bid farewell to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday with a brief message in Hindi, a symbolic gesture that highlighted the warmth of the India-France relationship at the conclusion of the Prime Minister's visit.

In a video shared after their engagements, Macron addressed Modi in Hindi, saying, Priye mitr Narendra... France-Bharat ki dosti amar rahe, before smiling and remarking in English, I hope it was correct.

The Hindi message conveyed his wishes for the enduring friendship between France and India and reflected the cordial relationship the two leaders have developed over the years.

Continuing in English, Macron thanked Prime Minister Modi for his visit, describing the discussions as highly productive. He expressed appreciation for the friendship between the two countries and said he looked forward to welcoming the Indian leader again during his next visit to France. He concluded his remarks with Jai Hind.

The farewell followed two days of diplomatic engagements linked to the G7 Summit, during which Prime Minister Modi met several global leaders and participated in discussions on key international issues.

On Saturday(June 13), Modi and Macron also held bilateral talks in Nice, where they reviewed progress in the India-France strategic partnership. Their discussions focused on expanding cooperation in defence, advanced technologies, civil nuclear energy, space, innovation, trade, and investment. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to increasing collaboration in defence manufacturing and emerging technologies.

The leaders also visited VivaTech 2026, Europe's premier technology and startup exhibition, where they interacted with entrepreneurs and explored innovations in artificial intelligence, deep technology, mobility, and other future-focused sectors.

Macron's use of Hindi in his farewell message added a personal touch to the conclusion of the visit and underscored the growing diplomatic, strategic, and cultural ties between India and France.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar