The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu while interacting with a delegation of French Parliamentarians led by Sophie Primas, the Chair, and Senate Standing Committee for Economic Affairs, in New Delhi on 9th September highlighted the following key issues related to India-France Strategic Partnership:

• India-France Strategic Partnership as an important pillar of India’s foreign policy.

• Closer cooperation between India and France to promote peace and harmony in the world.

• The Vice President said to the delegation “We don’t want anybody to interfere in the internal affairs of our country, nor do we interfere in the affairs of other countries”.

• Vice President suggested the setting up of Indo-French Parliamentary Friendship Group to promote closer ties between the two nations.

• Naidu also expressed happiness over France’s decision to partner with India under the Smart Cities initiatives.

• India’s development needs massive investments in urban renewal and clean energy.

• Bilateral trade momentum needs to be multiplied to reach the set target of trade in goods to 15 bn Euros by 2022.

• Committed to carrying forward this cooperation space cooperation between India and France through ISRO and CNES

• Climate Change was an article of faith for the Indian Government and India was on way to achieve the goals well in advance and committed to Paris Agreements.

Naidu also recollected his visit to France during the centenary of World War I Armistice held in November 2018 where he had inaugurated the first Indian War Memorial in Villers Guislain in the memory of more than 9,000 Indians, who sacrificed their lives in that war.