PM Modi in France Live: ‘Grateful to diaspora for memorable welcome,’ says PM Modi

PM Modi in France Live: ‘Grateful to diaspora for memorable welcome,’ says PM Modi

LiveModi France visit Live: PM to visit war cemetery to honour Indian soldiers in MarseilleBy HT News DeskFeb 12, 2025 5:27 AM ISTPM Modi France visit Live: PM Narendra Modi and French President arrived in Marseille after successfully co-chairing the AI Action Summit in Paris earlier in the day.Modi France visit Live: PM arrives in Marseilles with President Macron

PM Modi France visit Live: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Marseille with French President Emmanuel Macron after delivering the inaugural address of the AI Action Summit in Paris. EU Commission president Urusula Von Der Leyen, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and UN chief Antonio Guterres were also present at the high-profile AI summit....Read More

In his address, PM Modi called for investment in skilling and reskilling people for an artificial intelligence (AI)- driven future. He also asserted that governance is about ensuring access to everyone, especially in the Global South.

France confirmed that India will be hosting the next AI summit after PM Modi expressed interest. India also assured France of full support for its initiatives on AI.

The prime minister also spoke at the India-France CEOS Forum in Paris where he encouraged partnerships between businesses in the two countries.

Highlighting progress in manufacturing, infrastructure and production across several fields, Modi called for businesses to join the Indian market as the country worked towards the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.

PM Modi France visit | Key highlights

• Modi attended a dinner hosted by President Macron at the Élysée Palace in honour of visiting Heads of Government and State. The dinner was also attended by tech CEOs and several other distinguished invitees to the summit.
• The AI Action Summit assumes significance in the wake of tech disruption by China's DeepSeek. IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that India plans to develop a domestic AI model.
• Modi also addressed the India-France CEOs Forum where he encouraged businesses to enter the Indian market and highlighted the country's progress on several fronts.
• On Wednesday, Modi will visit Mazargues War Cemetery, maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in Marseille, to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by Indian soldiers in World War I.
• Modi and Macron will also visit Cadarache, the site of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), a high-science project.
• After landing in Marseille, PM Modi thanked the people of the city for the role they played in Veer Savarkar's escape from British custody.

Upon arriving in the French city of Marseille, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Indian consulate in the city will play a key role in strengthening "people-to-people" ties between India and France.

PM Modi, along with French president Emmanuel Macron, will be inaugurating the Indian Consulate in Marseille, India's second diplomatic mission in France, after the Embassy in Paris.

PM in France Live: PM Modi received a welcome with a Guard of Honour upon his arrival in Marseille along with French President Emmanuel Macron.

PM in France Live: In a post on X, PM Modi said, “President Macron and I reached Marseille a short while ago. This visit will witness important programmes aimed at further connecting India and France. The Indian consulate which is being inaugurated will deepen people-to-people linkages. I will also pay homage to the Indian soldiers martyred in First and Second World Wars.”

PM in France Live: PM has landed in Marseille and will inaugurate the new Consulate General of India alongside French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday. The leaders will also visit the Mazargues War Cemetery to pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the World Wars.

Additionally, they are set to tour the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, a global nuclear fusion initiative.

PM in France Live: PM Modi landed in Marseille along with French President Emmanuel Macron after they co-chaired the AI Action Summit earlier in the day. PM Modi also thanked the people of Marseille for the role they played in Veer Savarkar's escape during colonial rule.

He posted on X, “In India’s quest for freedom, this city holds special significance. It was here that the great Veer Savarkar attempted a courageous escape. I also want to thank the people of Marseille and the French activists of that time who demanded that he not be handed over to British custody. The bravery of Veer Savarkar continues to inspire generations!.”

PM in France Live: After successfully co-chairing the AI Action Summit in Paris, prime minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Marseille.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi addressed the 14th India-France CEO Forum in Paris.

PM in France Live: Google CEO Sundar Pichai met PM Modi in Paris and discussed the opportunities that AI opens up for India after the AI Action Summit.

Pichai posted on X, "Delighted to meet with PM Narendra Modi today while in Paris for the AI Action Summit. We discussed the incredible opportunities AI will bring to India and ways we can work closely together on India’s digital transformation."

PM in France Live: During the India-France CEOs summit, PM Modi said that the two countries were not only linked by democratic values but was a bond based on deep trust, innovation and the spirit of public welfare.

He added, “Our partnership is not limited to only two countries. We are working together to solve global problems and challenges.”

PM in France Live: PM Modi at the India-France CEO's Forum highlighted the reason why India was rapidly becoming a favourite investment destination.

He said, “In India, we have launched AI, semiconductor and Quantum Mission. In Defence, we are encouraging Make in India and Make for the World, and most of you are also associated with them. In space tech, we are scaling new heights. This sector has been opened for FDI. We are eager to make India a global bio-tech powerhouse.”

PM in France Live: PM Modi invited companies to invest in India at the the India-France CEOs Forum and said, “1.4 billion people of India have taken the pledge to make #ViksitBharat by 2047, across sectors like defence, advance technologies, fintech, pharma, textiles, agriculture, aviation, healthcare, highways, space, sustainable development - among others."

PM in France Live: Addressing the India-France CEOs Forum in Paris, PM Modi said, “I tell all of you that this is the time to come to India, this is the right time. The progress of all sectors is linked to the progress of India.”

He also gave an example of India's progress, adding, “An example of this was seen in the aviation sector. When Indian companies have placed big orders for aircraft. Now when we are going to open 120 new airports, you can yourself imagine the future possibilities.”

PM in France Live: In his speech at the India-France CEO's Forum, PM Modi said, “We are working with the target of 100 GW nuclear power by 2047. This sector has also been opened up for the private sector. We're also focusing on SMR (small modular reactors) and AMR (advanced modular reactors) technologies.”

PM in France Live: During his speech at the 14th India-France CEO forum in Paris, prime minister Narendra Modi said that this was the right time for businesses to come to India as the country was working towards its goal of' Viksit Bharat' by 2047.

He also said, “This is a confluence of the best business minds of India and France. I welcome the report of the Summit presented just now. I see that all of you are working with the mantra of innovate, collaborate and integrate. You are not just building connections, you are also strengthening the India-France strategic partnership.”

PM in France Live: PM Narendra Modi is speaking at the India-France CEOs forum where he highlighted India's achievements in AI, space technology and the Make in India programme to improve employment in the country.

PM in France Live: French President Emmanuel Macron greeted PM Modi upon his arrival in Paris to attend the India-France CEOs foru.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US vice president JD Vance on the margins of a dinner for world leaders attending the AI Action Summit in Paris, his first interaction with a member of the Trump administration ahead of a visit to Washington. Read more

PM in France Live:Paris AI Summit's declaration lacked clarity on questions around global governance and national security, a spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

"We felt that the declaration didn't provide enough practical clarity on global governance and (didn’t) sufficiently address harder questions around national security and the challenge that AI poses to it," the spokesperson told reporters.

“Security remains a vital part of AI’s future. And we look forward to continuing discussions in this area.”

PM in France Live: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Paris on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit.

"Happy to have met UN Secretary-General, Mr Antonio Guterres in Paris," PM Modi said on X.

In his remarks at the summit, Guterres said that the leaders must prevent a world of AI "haves" and "have-nots".

"A growing concentration of AI capabilities risks deepening geopolitical divides. We must prevent a world of AI "haves" and "have-nots". AI must bridge the gap between developed and developing countries - not widen it," he said in a post on X.

PM in France Live: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Alar Karis, President of Estonia, on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit in Paris. This was the first meeting between the two leaders.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the growing bilateral cooperation in various fields. They also discussed the ongoing bilateral cooperation in cyber security.

The prime minister invited the Estonian government and companies to explore the opportunities offered by India and take advantage of programmes such as Digital India.

PM in France Live: External affairs minister S Jaishankar said, “We need to shape the global discourse in this key domain (AI); only a multipolar world can ensure that AI develops with the least bias. We need diversified production, reliable and resilient supply chains, and deeper business collaborations. Please do weigh in on our FTA negotiations.”

PM in France Live: External Affairs minister S Jaishankar said that the ease of doing business in India has improved. He also noted improved infrastructure in India due to initiatives like the Gati Shakti. He urged the CEOs present to take advantage of the opportunity.

PM in France Live: External Affairs minister S Jaishankar noted the growing comfort in the strategic partnership between India and France during his opening remarks at the 14th India-France CEO.

He also noted that the job of the government will be to provide an enabling environment for thriving bilateral partnerships.

PM in France Live: India said indigenous AI chatbots have been used in government initiatives such as the Agristack programme, Digilocker, and UMANG initiatives. The Meity Secretary also said that they have been used in the Bhashini app.

The Bhashini app is an AI-powered language translation tool that helps Indian citizens communicate in different languages. It was developed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology as part of the National Language Translation Mission.

PM in France Live: India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that India's approach to AI will not be influenced by the global AI ‘race’. He also reiterated that New Delhi's priorities will be driven by its own AI mission and emphasised that the need for public interest should drive AI technologies.

PM in France Live: India has endorsed the Paris AI Summit's 'Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence.’

The Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said India has also committed to using AI in the public interest.

PM in France Live: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that the AI summit is a natural outcome of India's growing strategic relations with France.

PM in France Live: The United States and the UK did not sign the Paris AI Summit's declaration, 'Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence.'

The communique prioritizes "ensuring AI is open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure and trustworthy, taking into account international frameworks for all" and "making AI sustainable for people and the planet."

PM in France Live: President Emmanuel Macron's office said India will host the next international summit on artificial intelligence after co-hosting with France in Paris.

PM in France Live: “I welcome the decision to set up the AI foundation at the Council for Sustainable AI. I congratulate France and my dear friend President Macron for their initiatives and assure our full support. We must also make the global partnership for AI truly global in nature. It should be more inclusive of the Global South and its priorities, concerns and needs,” PM Modi said.

PM in France Live: “The AI Action Summit in Paris is a commendable effort to bring together world leaders, policy makers, thinkers, innovators and youngsters to have meaningful conversations around AI,” said PM Modi in a post on X.

PM in France Live: PM Modi announced that India would be happy to host the next AI Action Summit.

PM in France Live: US Vice President JD Vance said, “We feel very strongly that AI must remain free from ideological bias and that American AI will not be co-opted into a tool for authoritarian censorship.”

“The United States of America is the leader in AI and our administration plans to keep it that way,” he added.

PM in France Live: Mediawen Founder and CEO Erwan de Kerautem said that France and India are together in core values for the future of digital and Europe and expressed admiration for the Unified Payment Interface (UPI).

Kerautem said that Europe and India, hand in hand, can build a kind of third way of looking at the digital. He shared his experience of collaborating with Indian companies.

PM in France Live: Hostile adversaries have weaponised artificial intelligence to surveil and censor people, but the United States will block those efforts to undermine AI and will close off ways for them from obtaining capabilities to threaten people, US Vice President JD Vance said on Tuesday.

PM in France Live: US Vice President JD Vance said in his address that President Donald Trump's administration would ensure that the most powerful artificial intelligence systems would be built in the United States, but added that Washington wanted to partner with the world in the industry.

PM in France Live: PM Modi said, “Governance is not just about managing rifts and rivalries. It is also about promoting innovation and deploying it for the global good. So we must think deeply and discuss openly about innovation and governance.”

PM in France Live: PM Narendra Modi concluded his inaugural address at the AI Action Summit. His address was followed by US Vice President JD Vance.

PM in France Live: PM Modi said, “Governance is also about ensuring access to all, especially in the Global South. It is where the capabilities are most lacking be it power, talent, or data for the financial resources. AI can help transform millions of lives by improving health, education, agriculture and so much more. It can help create a world in which the journey to sustainable development goals becomes easier and faster. To do this, we must pull together resources and talent. We must develop open-source systems that enhance trust and transparency. We must build quality data sets free from biases”.

PM in France Live: PM Modi said, "Loss of jobs is AI's most feared disruption, but history has shown that work does not disappear due to technology, only its nature changes. We need to invest in skilling and re-skilling our people for an AI-driven future."

PM in France Live: PM Modi said that India has built a digital public infrastructure at a very low cost for 1.4 billion people. He also said that, considering its diversity, India is developing its own AI language model.

PM in France Live: PM Modi said "AI is developing at an unprecedented scale and speed and being adapted and deployed even faster. There is also a deep interdependence across borders. Therefore, there is a need for collective global efforts to establish governance and standards that upload our shared values, address risks, and build trust. But governance is not just about managing rifts and rivalries. It is also about promoting innovation and deploying it for the global good. So we must think deeply and discuss openly about innovation and governance."

PM in France Live: PM Modi is addressing the AI Action Summit in Paris. He stressed on the need for open source systems that enhance transparency.

PM in France Live: PM Modi arrived at the venue of the AI summit in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron.

PM in France Live: India and France emphasised the need for democratised access to Artificial Intelligence (AI) resources and capacity building while recognising the importance of the techno-legal frameworks.

Addressing a roundtable session at the Sciences Po campus in Paris University through videoconferencing, Ajay Kumar Sood, principal scientific advisor to the government of India, said India and France need to synergise on various policy positions and technological initiatives, fostering benefits not only at the bilateral level but also on a global scale by leveraging complementary knowledge and skill sets.

US Vice President JD Vance steps onto the global stage at the Paris AI summit on Tuesday, where he is likely to deliver a candid message on Europe's regulation of artificial intelligence and moderation of content on Big Tech.

French President Emmanuel Macron hugged Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a welcome dinner at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

“Delighted to meet my friend, President Macron in Paris,” Modi posted on X on Monday.

During his three-day visit to France, Modi will co-chair the AI Action Summit with Macron in Paris, hold bilateral talks with him, and address business leaders.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed with a hug by French President Emmanuel Macron at a welcome dinner at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

“Delighted to meet my friend, President Macron in Paris,” Modi posted on X on Monday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US vice president JD Vance on the margins of a dinner for world leaders attending the AI Action Summit in Paris, his first interaction with a member of the Trump administration ahead of a visit to Washington. READ MORE

Prime Minister Modi said that the bilateral segment of his visit to France will provide an opportunity to review the progress on the 2047 Horizon Roadmap for India-France strategic partnership along with 'my friend' President Macron.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, while responding to a question about PM Modi's France visit, said, "Some of you may have seen a few days ago an Op-ed I wrote urging India to take India a more proactive role on AI regulation, in particular, lamenting the fact that India still doesn't have an AI safety institute, whereas most of the advanced economies do."

"If you want to have an important role on AI, we need to be present as regulations are drafted, as policies are made... I am very glad that by actually co-chairing the summit, India's voice will be heard in the shape of PM's voice in Paris at one of the major international gatherings at governmental level on AI," Tharoor added.