PM Modi embarks on 3-nation visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday left the national capital for France to attend bilateral and multilateral programmes there. From France, Modi will travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain before returning to France to attend the G7 Summit.

Modi's five-day visit to the three nations is scheduled between August 22 and 26.

"PM@narendramodi emplanes for Paris. Over the next few days, he will attend important bilateral and multilateral programmes in France, UAE and Bahrain," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) tweeted.

Before taking a special aircraft to France, the Prime Minister said in a statement: "My visit to France reflects the strong strategic partnership, which our two countries deeply value, and share."

On Thursday and Friday, Modi would have bilateral meetings in France, including a summit interaction with the French President Emmanuel Macron and a meeting with Prime Minister Edouard Philippe.

He would also interact with the Indian community and dedicate a memorial to the Indian victims of the two Air India crashes in France in the 1950s and 1960s.

On August 25 and 26, Modi would participate in the G7 Summit as Biarritz Partner at the invitation of the French President during the sessions on environment, climate, oceans and digital transformation.

"India and France have excellent bilateral ties, which are reinforced by a shared vision to cooperate for further enhancing peace and prosperity for our two countries and the world at large.

Our strong strategic and economic partnership is complemented by a shared perspective on major global concerns such as terrorism, climate change. I am confident that this visit will further promote our long-standing and valued friendship with France for mutual prosperity, peace and progress," Modi said in the statement.