Republic Day guest French President Emmanuel Macron, PM Modi talk defence; hold roadshow in Jaipur

New Delhi, January 25

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting French President Emmanuel Macron held wide-ranging talks in Jaipur on Thursday evening to further their partnership in defence, the Indo-Pacific, cutting-edge technology and people-to-people talks.

The two leaders are understood to have discussed the salient features of “Horizon 2047”, a document prepared by both sides and unveiled during Modi’s visit to France as Chief Guest for the Bastille Day parade last July. The French President will be the Chief Guest at the 75th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi tomorrow. His visit marks France’s sixth participation, the highest for any other nation, as Chief Guest on India’s Republic Day. Macron arrived in Jaipur in the afternoon.

French president pays for tea via upi

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• PM Modi gifted a Ram Temple replica, which he bought from a handicraft shop by paying Rs 500 via UPI, to French President
• They also visited a tea stall and had an interaction over a cup of tea; Macron used UPI to make a token payment
• They later held bilateral discussions before leaving for Delhi, where Macron will be the chief guest for the R-Day Parade

Before a colourful road show, Macron visited Jantar Mantar in which Prime Minister Modi was pictured extending him a warm welcome. They then together took a closer look at the famous solar observatory established by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2010.

Macron also visited Amer Fort where he also met school students who had gathered there to welcome him. There, the French President was accompanied by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari.

PM Modi also gifted him a replica of the Ram Mandir. The two leaders then visited a tea stall and had an interaction over a cup of tea in Jaipur. The French President used UPI to make a payment there.