French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Jaipur today, to tour city with PM Modi

Sandeep Dikshit

New Delhi, January 24

French President Emmanuel Macron will reach Jaipur on Thursday and has four major programmes lined up before leaving for Delhi in the evening, where he will be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations.

The three events planned at Jaipur are visits to Amber Fort, Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal and participation in a “Sobha Yatra” along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders will then head to Rambagh Hotel, after which they will leave for Delhi in the evening.

The two leaders will also hold a bilateral meeting during which the French are keen on major announcements in the defence and strategic sectors. The Indian side’s focus is on progress in the hi-tech sectors and joint cooperation in the Indo-Pacific as envisaged in the “Horizon 2047” document unveiled during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to France as the chief guest at the Bastille Day parade last year.

The French President had “promptly” agreed to be the chief guest for the January 26 Republic Day celebrations when South Block put in a request, said senior officials. India was left in a quandary with weeks to go for the Republic Day parade after invited dignitary United States President Joe Biden expressed his inability to visit India. An approach to United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was also infructuous.

Apart from matters of state, Macron’s visit will stress France’s commitment to creating more opportunities for

Indian students, artists, investors and tourists.

Horizon 2047

President Macron’s visit will consolidate the ambitious renewal of the France-India strategic partnership that the two leaders decided on in Paris on July 14 through the Horizon 2047 Roadmap. — French embassy statement