Prime Minister Modi visit to France

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• Why India-France ties are strong?
• News Summary: Prime Minister Modi’s visit to France
• Key outcomes

 

Why in news?

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid an Official Visit to France recently. He was the Guest of Honour at the Bastille Day Parade on 14 July 2023.
  • The National Day of France is celebrated on July 14, also known as Bastille Day or Fête nationale française.
    • This day marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789 during the French revolution.
      • The revolution symbolises the democratic values of ‘Liberty, Equality and Fraternity’.
    • It is also the anniversary of Fête de la Fédération, an event held in 1790 to celebrate the unity of the French people.
• This year marks the 25th anniversary of the India – France Strategic Partnership. 
• Against this backdrop, the current visit provides an opportunity to chart the course of the partnership for the future.

 

Why India-France ties are strong?

• A special partnership
  • The two countries commenced their strategic partnership, India’s first, immediately after India’s nuclear tests in 1998.
  • This was at a time when most Western capitals had turned their backs on New Delhi.
  • The signing of an agreement for the supply of 36 Rafale aircraft in September 2016, and an industrial agreement in March 2018 to build six European pressurized water reactors (EPR) at the Jaitapur site are directly linked to this partnership.
• Cornerstone of the relationship - Defence, climate, tech 
  • While defence deals with the US are dogged by unpredictability due to Congressional interventions and export control regimes, the French deals come with no strings attached.
  • The current visit saw agreements on: 
    • the acquisition of 26 Rafale-M (the marine version) fighters for the Indian Navy, and 
    • co-production of three more Scorpene class submarines at the public sector Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd.
  • The two sides also cooperate closely on climate change initiatives. 
    • In October 2022, they signed a Road Map on Green Hydrogen, which aims to bring the French and Indian hydrogen ecosystems together.
  • Earlier in February 2022, they signed a Road Map on the Blue Economy and Ocean Governance.
• France, India, the world
  • Both India and France value their strategic autonomy, pursue independence in their foreign policies, and seek a multipolar world.
  • Both acknowledge the place and importance of the US in the world order.
• Chemistry
  • Modi and Macron enjoy great personal rapport. India did not let last week’s rioting and violence in Paris come in the way of the Indian PM’s visit. 
  • The two countries have had a tradition of not commenting on each other’s internal issues. 
  • Macron did not bring up the Manipur, issue or India’s perceived backsliding on human rights and religious freedoms.

 

News Summary: Prime Minister Modi’s visit to France

Key outcomes

• PM Modi bestowed with France's highest honour
  • The PM was conferred with the highest honour of nation, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, by French President Emmanuel Macron.
    • Established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the Legion of Honor is the reward for outstanding merit acquired in the service of the nation in a civilian or military capacity.
• Launched a 25-year vision roadmap
  • The joint statement – “25th Anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between France and India: towards a Century of Indo-French Relations” – sets the course for the France-India bilateral relationship in all areas till 2047.
  • Year 2047 will mark:
    • 100 years of India’s Independence, 
    • 100 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries, and 
    • 50 years of the Indo-French strategic partnership.
  • The roadmap for bilateral relations has three pillars: partnership for security and sovereignty; partnership for the planet; partnership for the people.

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Image caption: Different Pillars under 25-year vision roadmap

• Launch of India-France Indo-Pacific Roadmap
  • A roadmap for joint actions in the Indo-Pacific was adopted. 
    • In 2018, India and France agreed on a ‘Joint Strategic Vision of India-France Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region’.
  • Under this roadmap, the two sides decided to work on finalising an Indo-French development fund for third countries.
    • This will enable joint financing of sustainable development projects in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • India and France will work to set up the Indo-French Health Campus for the Indo-Pacific.
• Joint Commitment to Eliminate Single Use Plastic Products Pollution
  • 80% of plastic waste originate from land sources. 
  • 9.2 billion tons of plastic have been produced since 1950, among which 7 billion tons of waste have been generated. 
  • Each year, 400 million tons of plastic are produced, of which one-third are produced for single use products and around 10 million tons are dumped into the ocean.
  • In this context, joint commitment aims to eliminate single use plastic products pollution, including ban on single use plastic products which have low utility and high littering potential by France and India.
• Development finance
  • It would mean 100 million Euros for City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain 2.0 (CITIIS 2.0) and 50 million USD for climate projects and women’s empowerment in micro-finance.

 

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Q1) What is Single Use Plastic?

Single-use plastic refers to plastic items that are designed to be used only once before being discarded. These are products that are intended to be used for a short period and then thrown away. Single-use plastics are often used for packaging and convenience purposes due to their low cost, durability, and versatility. Examples of single-use plastic items include plastic bags, food and beverage containers, straws, cutlery, coffee stirrers, plastic bottles, and packaging materials like blister packs and shrink wrap. These items are typically made from materials like polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

 

Q2) What are Scorpene class submarines?

The Scorpene class submarines are a class of diesel-electric attack submarines designed and developed by the French shipbuilding company Naval Group (formerly known as DCNS) in collaboration with the Spanish company Navantia. The Scorpene class submarines are known for their stealth capabilities, advanced technology, and versatility.

 

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Source: Series of pacts sealed as Modi & Macron hold talks in Paris, outline ‘bold, ambitious goals’ | Ministry of External Affairs | MEA