PM Modi speaks to 'dear friend' Macron, thanks him for helping India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday had a telephonic conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, where the latter reiterated the support and solidarity of French people in the context of a deadly epidemic wave in India.

The two leaders also discussed the bilateral and global ties. They also deliberated on the Indo-Pacific issue. 

"Spoke to my dear friend President @EmmanuelMacron. I thanked him for France's prompt assistance to India's Covid-19 response. We also discussed bilateral, regional and global issues, including cooperation in climate action and Indo-Pacific," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet.

The two leaders also expressed commitment to deepen the strategic partnership between the two democracies. 

Both leaders agreed that the announcements regarding the resumption of negotiations for balanced and comprehensive free trade and investment agreements and the India-EU Connectivity Partnership were welcome steps. 

The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the depth and strength that the India-France Strategic Partnership has acquired in recent years and agreed to continue working closely together in the post-COVID era, the PMO said.

In India's fight against the second wave of Covid-19 disease, the French government responded with an exceptional magnitude. 

"France launched an unprecedented solidarity operation, initiated on May 1 with the delivery of eight oxygen generator plants and medical equipment, and which is continuing in the form of supplying oxygen containers," the French President readout said in a statement. 

"This air and sea bridge, carried out with the support of French companies, will include a fresh delivery of oxygen generator plants in the coming weeks, thus contributing to boosting Indian hospitals' capabilities lastingly," it said. 

Macron reiterated the importance of ACT-A, including the COVAX facility, to strengthen the multilateral approach to producing, selling, and donating vaccines.

The two leaders also agreed to deepen the Indo-French strategic partnership in defence, civil nuclear energy, the environment and maritime issues, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.

Macron further welcomed India's decision to join the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, a decisive initiative in view of the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille and the COP15 in Kunming. 

On climate action, the two countries reiterated their support for the International Solar Alliance.

The prime minister also reiterated his invitation to President Macron to visit India as soon as conditions permit.

• Emmanuel Macron
• Narendra Modi
• Coronavirus