Global food crisis, Ukraine war underscore India-france talks
NEW DELHI: India and France have called for an immediate end to hostilities in Ukraine to promote dialogue and diplomacy, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to step up coordination to tackle the global implications of the conflict.
The two leaders, during their meeting in Paris on Wednesday, condemned civilian deaths in Ukraine and underlined the need to respect the UN Charter, the international law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.
Modi earlier joined his counterparts from five Nordic states during a summit in Copenhagen to emphasise for an immediate end to hostilities.
Modi travelled to France after the India-nordic Summit and separate meetings with prime ministers of Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden in the Danish capital. The Ukraine crisis has figured in all legs of Modi’s three-nation tour of Europe and the Indian side has stressed the need to find a negotiated settlement.
New Delhi and Paris have expressed serious concerns over the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, “unequivocally condemned civilian deaths”, and sought an “immediate cessation of hostilities to bring parties together to promote dialogue and diplomacy to find an immediate end to the suffering of the people”, said a joint statement issued after the meeting between Macron and Modi.
The two leaders discussed the regional and global implications of the Ukraine conflict and “agreed to intensify coordination on the issue”, the statement said.
France reiterated its “strong condemnation of the unlawful and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine by Russian forces”, it added.
Foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters on Wednesday that the two leaders agreed close coordination and engagement is important so that “India and France can play a constructive role in the evolving situation”.
Modi outlined to Macron the Indian position, which calls for immediate cessation of hostilities and a resolution through diplomacy and dialogue, he said.
The two leaders exchanged views on the “cascading effect” of the situation in Ukraine, including global shortages of food and commodities, such as fertiliser, and how India and France can partner to address some of these global challenges.
“There is a very clear understanding of each other’s position and they did agree to stay in touch and coordinate very closely. So that as the situation evolves, they can both individually or together play a constructive role in this situation... so that all these challenges... can be resolved,” Kwatra said.
Modi was among the first foreign leaders to meet Macron following the latter’s re-election.
In the context of the bilateral defence partnership, the two leaders discussed how the two countries can partner more strongly in co-designing, co-development and co-production of defence equipment in India, Kwatra said.
Following the construction of six Scorpène-class submarines in Mumbai with the transfer of technology from France and the delivery of 36 Rafale combat jets despite the pandemic, the two sides agreed to find “creative ways” for France’s deeper involvement in the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) initiative, the statement said.
Besides agreeing to work on more secure and sovereign 5G and 6G telecom systems, India and France also reaffirmed the commitment to the strategic Jaitapur nuclear power project for access to affordable and low carbon energy and welcome the progress achieved in recent months.