New Delhi, 17 February (H.S.):

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended a ceremonial welcome to French President Emmanuel Macron upon his arrival in India on Tuesday, to participate in the AI Impact Summit, heralding this sojourn as a catalyst for elevating the India-France strategic partnership to unprecedented echelons.

Reposting Macron's missive on the X platform, PM Modi averred that India proffers heartfelt salutations, prognosticating that their deliberations shall fortify bilateral synergies whilst catalyzing global advancement. Modi accentuated forthcoming engagements in Mumbai—whither Macron alighted initially—and New Delhi as imparting renewed momentum to Indo-French amity.

Macron, undertaking a three-day itinerary (February 17-19), traverses from Mumbai to the capital accompanied by luminaries from commerce, economics, industry, culture, and digital realms, avowing intent to propel the strategic entente forward whilst expressing palpable anticipation for parleys with Modi.

This rendezvous—enshrined in the Horizon 2047 Roadmap—encompasses spectrum-spanning cooperation, Indo-Pacific synergies, and the inauguration of India-France Year of Innovation 2026, consummated jointly in Mumbai, antecedent Macron's New Delhi AI conclave on February 19.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar