Modi to tour France, UAE, Bahrain from August 22

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 19 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a three-nation tour of France, the UAE and Bahrain from August 22 to 26 to take forward bilateral relations with these three countries and attend a multi-lateral engagement attending the G7 Summit at Biarritz, France, as a partner.

Arriving in Paris on August 22, PM Modi will hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron focusing on key areas of defence, maritime cooperation, counter-terrorism and nuclear energy.

Briefing the media on the visits, TS Tirumurti, Secretary (ER) in Ministry of External Affairs said besides one-on-one talks, the two sides will hold delegation-level discussion that are expected to focus on ties between the strategic and like-minded partners. The areas to receive attention include strengthening defence partnership, future defence acquisitions, progress on setting up of the Jaitapur nuclear power plan and convergent strategic and political priorities in the Indo-Pacific.

Besides, the two sides will engage in areas of strategic cooperation in space, counter-terrorism, cyber security, International Solar Alliance and joint development projects in other countries, especially Africa, he said adding that some understanding could be in sectors such as skill development, cyber and space information and technology.

On the day two of his visit to France, PM will meet French Prime Minister Edouard Charles Philippe, address an event of Indian community at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, and an inaugurate a memorial for Indian victims of two Air India flight crashes in 1950 and 1966 at Nid D’ Aigle isle.

From France, the Prime Minister will proceed for bilateral visits to the UAE and Bahrain, and return to the French city of Biarritz on August 25 to attend the G7 Summit where India has been invited as a partner country. 

At the summit, PM Modi is expected to speak in session on environment, climate, oceans and digital transformation and have bilateral meetings with leaders of other countries on the sidelines.

At Abu Dhabi, PM Modi will receive the Order of Zayed, the highest civil decoration of the UAE, which was conferred on him in April this year. The visit would strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and the UAE relations with PM Modi and Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will discuss bilateral, regional and international matters of mutual interest.

The August 24-25 visit to Bahrain, will be the first-ever Prime Ministerial visit from India and during his talks with Prime Minister Prince Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, would discuss entire spectrum of bilateral ties. PM Modi will also launch the renovation of Shreenathji (Sri Krishna) temple at Manama.