Republic Day 2024: French President Macron Set for Jaipur Arrival, PM Modi to Welcome
French President Emmanuel Macron, the distinguished guest for this year's Republic Day, is scheduled to arrive in Jaipur. His visit will commence with a tour of the Amber Fort. Subsequently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will welcome him, and the two leaders will explore the pink city together. Macron's visit marks the culmination of the 25th-anniversary festivities of the India-France Strategic Partnership. In anticipation of the French President's arrival, Jaipur has been adorned with posters featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Macron. Macron's presence in India as the chief guest for the 75th Republic Day celebrations comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi.
On this occasion, a French armed forces contingent will participate in the Republic Day parade and flypast alongside Indian troops and aviators. "Macron will tour Amber Fort and interact with artisans, stakeholders in Indo-French cultural projects, as well as students. Thereafter, he will be received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the two leaders will visit a few landmarks of the Pink City together, including Jantar Mantar", according to an official statement.
Following their tour, the two leaders will hold in-depth bilateral talks. Later on January 26, President Macron will attend the Republic Day parade as the chief guest. "He will attend the At Home reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan and, later, the State Banquet, at the invitation of the Hon’ble President of India, H.E. Smt Droupadi Murmu", the statement stated. Notably, Macron has previously been in India on a state visit in March 2018 and on an official visit in September 2023 for the Delhi G20 Summit.
Furthermore, President Macron has extended invitations to Prime Minister Modi on four separate occasions to visit France. As part of his upcoming visit, Macron will be accompanied by a ministerial delegation, including Stephane Sejourne (Europe and Foreign Affairs), Sebastien Lecornu (Armed Forces), and Rachida Dati (Culture). Additionally, there will be a high-profile business delegation comprising executives from French majors, SMEs, and mid-caps, as well as notable personalities like ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet. Macron's state visit signifies France's sixth participation, the highest among all nations, as the chief guest during India's Republic Day celebrations.
Furthermore, it comes months after PM Modi’s Paris trip on France’s Bastille Day on July 14, 2023. "This reciprocal invitation to national day celebrations is unprecedented and shows the deep mutual trust and unwavering friendship underpinning Indo-French ties", the statement said. President Macron's visit aims to strengthen the ambitious renewal of the strategic partnership between France and India, as outlined in the "Horizon 2047 Roadmap," a decision made by the two leaders in Paris on July 14.
A quarter-century after initiating their strategic partnership, France and India are now pursuing shared objectives for the next 25 years. In this context, discussions between President Macron and PM Modi will focus on advancing cooperation and concluding new initiatives aligned with the three pillars of the roadmap.
