French President Emmanuel Macron touched
down in Jaipur as part of his two-day State visit to Bharat, culminating in his
attendance as the chief guest at the Republic Day Parade 2024. Upon arrival at
Jaipur International Airport, he received a warm welcome from External Affairs
Minister S Jaishankar, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra, and Chief Minister
Bhajan Lal Sharma.
The visit, marking the 25th-anniversary
celebrations of the Bharat-France Strategic Partnership, includes a roadshow
with Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the vibrant Pink City. The city is
adorned with posters of both leaders in preparation for the grand event.
President Macron commenced his visit
with a tour of the iconic Amber Fort, interacting with artisans, stakeholders
in Indo-French cultural projects, and students. Subsequently, he joined PM Modi
for a joint tour of Jaipur, encompassing landmarks like Jantar Mantar.
In the evening, Macron is scheduled to
visit Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal, followed by a bilateral meeting with PM
Modi at Taj Rambagh Palace. The visit will feature French armed forces
participating in the Republic Day parade and flypast alongside their Indian
counterparts.
On January 26, President Macron will
attend the Republic Day parade as the chief guest. The day will conclude with
his presence at the At Home reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan and a State Banquet
hosted by President Droupadi Murmu.
Accompanying Macron is a ministerial
delegation, including Stephane Sejourne (Europe and Foreign Affairs), Sebastien
Lecornu (Armed Forces), and Rachida Dati (Culture). A C-level business delegation
of French majors, SMEs, mid-caps, and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet are also
part of the visit.
This State visit by President Macron
marks France’s sixth participation as the chief guest at Bharat’s Republic Day,
reflecting the robust and strategic partnership between the two nations. The
visit aims to consolidate the ambitious renewal of the France-Bharat strategic
partnership outlined in the “Horizon 2047 Roadmap” agreed upon by the leaders
in Paris on July 14.
