France’s Macron tours historic sites with India’s Modi and will be the chief guest for Republic Day
By ASHOK SHARMA
Associated Press
NEW DELHI (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has toured historic sites in India with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was set to be the chief guest at the country’s national day celebrations. Modi greeted Macron at an 18th-century observatory in Jaipur and the two stood in an open jeep as they were driven past crowds lining the streets to welcome the leaders Thursday. They later flew to New Delhi, where Macron will be the guest of honor at India’s Republic Day parade Friday. Modi was a guest of honor at a Bastille Day parade in Paris last year, where Macron called India a key player “in our future.” France is looking to strengthen cooperation with India, despite frictions over the two countries’ attitudes toward Russia’s war on Ukraine.