India and France Strengthen Partnership at AI Action Summit in Paris

AI Action Summit adds yet another aspect to growing India-France strategic partnership: Foreign Secy Misri

The ongoing AI Action Summit in Paris has added yet another aspect to the "growing India-France strategic partnership", Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Tuesday. The plenary session of the mega event was co-chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. At a briefing held here on the prime minister's visit to France, Misri shared details about his broader engagements and the expected deliverables from the summit. "The (AI Action) Summit adds yet another aspect to growing India-France strategic partnership," the foreign secretary said. He further said that in keeping with the India-France track record of cooperation in a number of areas, such as space, defence, nuclear and critical technologies, "it is only natural that we cooperate in the AI sphere as well". In his address at the summit, Modi made a strong case for collective efforts to establish a global framework for artificial intelligence (AI) based on open source which enhances trust, transparency and is free from biases. Modi said that AI is changing the polity, economy, security and society and is "writing the code for humanity in this century". "We are at the dawn of the AI age that will shape the course of humanity," he said. "Some people worry about machines becoming superior in intelligence to humans. But, no one holds the key to our collective future and shared destiny other than us humans. That sense of responsibility must guide us," he added. Modi, who is on a three-day visit to France starting Monday, will also hold bilateral talks with President Macron and address business leaders. Last year, India and France celebrated the 25th anniversary of their strategic partnership, covering an entire gamut of issues from defence and security, civil nuclear matters, space to trade, economy and commerce. Modi held a bilateral meeting with Estonia President Alar Karis on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit in Paris, Misri said. This was the first meeting between Modi and Karis, and both expressed satisfaction at the growing India-Estonia cooperation in several fields, he added.

India, France have shared interest focused on friendship: French President Emmanuel Macron

Ahead of his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in France, President Emmanuel Macron has said that the two countries have a "shared interest" focused on friendship. Prime Minister Modi on Monday embarked on a two-nation tour that will first take him to France and then the US. During his three-day visit to France starting Monday, Modi will co-chair the AI Action Summit with Macron in Paris, hold bilateral talks with him, and address business leaders. In a video interview with India's Firstpost and French news network France24 in Paris, Macron shared his thoughts on artificial intelligence (AI) and its global impact, India-France ties, and his views on the US. During the interaction, the French president highlighted India's strength in technology and education, a statement said. "India is a training superpower -- one million engineers a year, more than the US and Europe combined," he was quoted as saying in the statement. "We have shared interest focused on friendship," the French president said. In response to a query, he said, "We want to train our talent so that they can go abroad, but they should also be at home." At the beginning of the interview, Macron greeted the people of India in Hindi, saying, 'Bharat ke logon ko mera namaste', and ended it by saying 'Bahut shukriya' (many thanks). At a special briefing in Delhi on February 7, India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had shared the broad itinerary of the prime minister's visit to France. Modi will attend a dinner hosted by Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Monday, which is likely to be attended by a large number of CEOs from the tech domain along with other distinguished invitees to the summit. On February 11, the prime minister will co-chair the AI Action Summit, along with Macron. He will also hold discussions in both restricted and delegation formats and address the India-France CEO's Forum, Misri told reporters. The two leaders are also scheduled to visit the Mazargues War Cemetery maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in Marseille on Wednesday, and pay tributes to the sacrifices made by the Indian soldiers in World War I. Last year, India and France celebrated the 25th anniversary of their strategic partnership, covering an entire gamut of issues, from defence and security, civil nuclear matters, space to trade, economy and commerce.

Announcement on defence industry collaboration likely at Modi-Macron summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a dinner hosted by President Emmanuel Macron, preceding the Indo-French summit in Marseilles. Key announcements, including India's procurement of Rafale jets and submarines, are anticipated. Modi and Macron will co-chair the AI Action Summit and inaugurate India's newest Consulate in Marseilles, highlighting defence and technology collaborations.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday attended a dinner that was hosted by President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris on the eve of the Indo-French bilateral summit in Marseilles where key announcements in the defence industry sector are expected. The dinner was also attended by several leaders and a large number of CEOs from the tech domain. On Tuesday the Prime Minister will co-chair the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit, along with Macron. A India-France bilateral AI roadmap will be inaugurated during the PM's visit. Among the leaders who have been invited for the AI Summit included outgoing Canadian PM Justin Trudeau besides the Chancellor of Germany, Vice Premier of China, EU Commission President, UNGA Secretary General besides the PMs of several European countries including Greece besides Armenia. Among Technology czars Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google & Alphabet and Sam Altman CEO of Open AI have been invited. In Paris the Prime Minister and French President will also address the India-France CEOs Forum. Subsequently they will also hold discussions in both the restricted and delegation level talks format in the port of Marseilles where they will both travel together on Tuesday evening. The two leaders will jointly inaugurate the newest Consulate General of India in Marseilles on Wednesday. Defence, security and sovereignty issues will be at the core of the discussions and an important announcement in the defence sector could be made at Modi-Macron Summit, a source said. India will procure Rafale fighter jets for its aircraft carrier and possibly three more Scorpene-class conventional submarines from France. India and France are also in advanced talks for developing a fighter jet engine. India and France have a strong and robust defence partnership with an increasing 'Atmanirbharata' element in it. Outlining his agenda for France visit Modi in his departure statement said, "...In Paris, I look forward to co-chairing the AI Action Summit, a gathering of the world leaders and global tech CEOs, where we will exchange views on collaborative approach to AI technology for innovation and larger public good in an inclusive, secure and trustworthy manner." "The bilateral segment of my visit will provide an opportunity to review the progress on the 2047 Horizon Roadmap for India-France strategic partnership along with my friend President Macron. We will also travel to the historic French city of Marseille to inaugurate the first Indian Consulate in France and also visit the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project, in which India is a member of the consortium of partner countries including France, to harness energy for the global good. I will also pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during World Wars I and II at the Mazargues War Cemetery," the PM announced. On Friday addressing a special media briefing Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, "Artificial Intelligence is bound to have and is already having profound impact across all sectors of the economy, polity, society, and governance. And therefore, Summits such as the AI Action Summit are both significant and timely. For those of you who follow AI closely, you would be aware that this is the third such high-level summit that has been held in the very recent past. The first of these was in the UK in 2023, the second one in the Republic of Korea in 2024, and now this one in France." India is interested in AI applications that are designed, developed, deployed, and used in a safe, humane, responsible, and trustworthy manner. There are, of course, issues related to the inclusive use and application and deployment of AI.