In his speech at banquet hosted by Prez Murmu Macron said he will "not forget" the Chai he had with Modi

Chai with PM Modi, paid through UPI, ‘unforgettable’ memory for President Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron, who was in India as the Republic Day chief guest, was left amazed by India's UPI system that was used for making a payment for a tea which he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi enjoyed near Jaipur's Hawa Mahal.  

In his speech at the official banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu for him at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Macron said he will "not forget" the chai which he had with PM Modi, using the Hindi word for tea.

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Macron's address

India and France expressed deep concern over the war in Ukraine and its tragic humanitarian consequences. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting French President Emmanuel Macron underscored the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with international law, and consistent with the principles of the UN Charter. 

"They underscored the growing impact of this war on the global economic system and food security, with consequences predominantly affecting developing and least developed countries," a Joint Statement said. 

Modi and President Emmanuel Macron have reaffirmed their vision that the India-France Strategic Partnership can help build prosperity and resilience in their economies, advance their countries' security, and create a more sustainable and healthier future for the planet.

The partnership can help seek solutions for global challenges, reinvigorate multilateralism and help build a stable international order and a more cohesive and united world, as per the India-France Joint Statement following French President Emmanuel Macron's State visit to the country for the Republic Day celebrations.

Prime Minister Modi and President Macron reaffirmed their shared vision for bilateral cooperation and international partnership, outlined in Horizon 2047 and other documents from the July 2023 Summit.

They commended the progress in bilateral cooperation and committed to accelerating it further across the three broad pillars of bilateral cooperation - Partnership for Peace and Prosperity, Partnership for Planet and Partnership for People - to further reinforce their shared commitment to sovereignty and strategic autonomy, as per the joint statement.

They held extensive discussions on the long-term global challenges and current international developments, and drawing from their converging interests and approaches, agreed to intensify their global and regional engagement, including through multilateral initiatives and institutions.

Meanwhile, in a reaffirmation of the longstanding friendship between India and France, President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said: "Long live the friendship between France and India."

At the outset of his address during a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, Macron expressed heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome extended to his delegation.

Macron shared his appreciation for the unique bond that transcends time and shared values.

The French President acknowledged the exceptional welcome and recalled the five years since his last state visit, expressing his pleasure at returning to India after the resounding success of India's G20.

Macron expressed deep honour in having French soldiers participate alongside their Indian counterparts, deeming it an unforgettable memory for the entire delegation.

"It is with the most pleasure that we are here and to come back five years after our former state visit and five months after the success of your G20."  

The two leaders reaffirmed their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross border terrorism, and shared their resolve to stand together in the common fight against global terrorism. They further agreed that no country should provide safe haven to those who finance, plan, support, or commit terrorist acts. 

The leaders also called for concerted action against all terrorist, including through designations or individuals affiliated with groups that are listed by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee. The two sides emphasized the importance of upholding international standards on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, consistent with Financial Action Task Force recommendations. Both countries reiterated their commitment to work together in FATF, NMFT and other multilateral platforms.

They appreciated the growing India-France counter-terrorism and intelligence cooperation, including through the mechanism of their Joint Working Group on Counter-terrorism. 

They welcomed the formalisation of cooperation between the National Security Guard (NSG) of India and the Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale (GIGN) for agency-level cooperation in the field of Counterterrorism.

They lauded the all-round progress in defence and security partnership, which is a principal pillar of the partnership and a source of strengthening their countries’ sovereignty and strategic autonomy, and for advancing peace in the region. It extends from intelligence and information exchange to exercises and equipment and across all domains from the seabed to space. 

They welcomed the outcomes and the directions set by the 5th Annual Defence Dialogue chaired by the two Defence Ministers, and the Maritime Cooperation Dialogue held in October 2023.