Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Paris this afternoon on an official visit to France. He was received by French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne on arrival. Mr Modi was given a guard of honour at the airport.
Prime Minister Modi will be the Guest of Honour at the Bastille Day Parade tomorrow, where a tri-services Indian armed forces contingent would be participating. French National Day, or Bastille Day occupies a special place in French consciousness. This day commemorates the Storming of the Bastille Prison in 1789 during the French Revolution. It is uncommon for foreign leaders to be invited as Guests of Honour for Bastille Day celebrations. Foreign marching contingents and foreign aircraft participating in it is also rare.
This evening, Mr Modi will meet French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne and President of the French Senate Gérard Larcher. He will interact with the Indian community which will be followed by a private dinner hosted by President Macron at Elysee Palace in honour of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister will hold delegation-level talks with President Macron tomorrow. During the visit, he will also interact with CEOs of Indian and French companies, and prominent French personalities. The French President will host the State Banquet at the iconic Louvre Museum on Bastille Day.