French President Macron Arrives in New Delhi for 4-Day Visit
Marking 20 years of an Indo-France strategic partnership, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte arrived in New Delhi on 9 March for a four-day visit.
According to a French official in the know about the President’s itinerary, Macron will be “spend a lot of time with PM Modi”.
(With PTI and ANI inputs)
Macron's Boat Ride in Varanasi
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday enjoyed a boat ride with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Ganga with a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage of the temple city.
Macron was given a traditional welcome with showering of flower petals, a Shehnai recital and chanting of mantras before he took a decked-up boat which ferried him, Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath between Assi and Dashwamedh ghats.
People and school-leaders gathered in large numbers along the ghats waving flags of India and France while artistes enacted scenes from Ramleela and the episode of first sermon by Lord Buddha to his five disciples.
Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted pictures of the boat ride and described the friendship between the two countries as full of "vibrant energy".
The French President himself tweeted about his visit to the culturally rich City in Uttar Pradesh, thanking Varanasi for the experience.
Cong President Rahul Gandhi Met with Macron on Sunday
Congress President Rahul Gandhi met French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday and discussed with him issues that affect liberal democracies including fake news.
Gandhi was accompanied by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, when he met with the visiting French president.
The Congress chief, however, did not raise the Rafale fighter jet deal with Macron, party sources said.
The Congress has been attacking the BJP government on the defence deal, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of causing loss to the state exchequer by buying the fighter jets at inflated rate.
"Yesterday, I met with French President @EmmanuelMacron. We discussed a range of issues common to our liberal democracies, including fake news.
"I look forward to building on this meeting and to collaborating with him on global challenges such as Climate Change," Gandhi tweeted on Monday, posting a picture with Singh and Macron.
"India is Honoured to Host You," PM Modi to Macron
As French President Emmanuel Macron concluded his visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted saying that he is happy that he was able to host the French President.
India is honoured to host you, President Emmanuel Macron. Your visit has added new strength to India-France relations. I am personally happy I met you in Delhi and could be with you in Varanasi.PM Modi, in his tweet.
Modi, Macron Inaugurate Mirzapur Solar Power Plant
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday inaugurated Uttar Pradesh's biggest solar power plant in Mirzapur district's Chhanvey block.
The prime minister, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath received the French president and his wife Brigitte at the airstrip in Dadar Kalan village.
The prime minister and the French president pressed a button to energise the solar panels and dedicated the 75 MW facility to the people.
Built at a cost of around Rs 500 crore by French firm ENGIE, the 75 MW solar plant has come up at Dadar Kalan village on the hilly terrain of the Vindhyas range. Some 1,18,600 solar panels have been set up in over 380 acres.
Power would be transmitted to Jigna sub-station of Mirzapur range of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd, officials said.
The plant will generate 15.6 crore units of electricity annually, about 1.30 crore units per month.