EAM Jaishankar holds talks with French counterpart Le Drian

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday held intensive talks with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, masking all points of the bilateral strategic ties in addition to regional and world challenges.

The French Minister arrived in New Delhi on April 12 night on a three-day go to to discover methods to additional increase cooperation between the 2 international locations, together with within the Indo-Pacific area.

After the talks, Mr. Jaishankar stated India and France will advance their shared post-COVID-19 agenda via “close collaboration”.

“A comfortable, substantive and productive discussion with FM @JY_LeDrian. India and France will advance their shared post-COVID agenda through close collaboration,” he tweeted.

French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain described the assembly as “excellent”.

“Excellent meeting b/w @JY_LeDrian @francediplo_EN & @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia. The ministers discussed all aspects of the bilateral strategic partnership, regional & global challenges and cooperation at the #UNSC,” Mr. Lenain stated in a tweet.

On April 12, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated the go to by the French Foreign Minister will pave the way in which for additional strengthening of bilateral partnership throughout commerce, defence, local weather, migration and mobility, schooling and well being sectors within the post-COVID-19 context.

The French embassy stated Mr. Le Drian is enterprise the go to to strengthen strategic ties between France and India, increase cooperation in a number of fields, notably the Indo-Pacific.

The defence and safety ties between India and France are on an upswing in the previous few years.

India had signed an inter-governmental settlement with France in September 2016 for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a value of round ₹58,000 crore.

Dassault Aviation, the producer of Rafale jets, has delivered 14 plane to the Indian Air Force to this point.