The prime minister of India wrote on his official Twitter account, “I thank President @EmmanuelMacron and Mrs. Macron for hosting me at the Élysée Palace this evening.”

The French President and his wife welcomed him to the Elysee Palace. As PM Modi arrived at the Elysee Palace’s entryway, Emmanuel Macron welcomed him with a hug. Then Brigitte Macron joined the two leaders in a photo op.

Thursday (local time) saw Emmanuel Macron present Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour over a private luncheon. In military or civilian orders, it is France’s highest distinction. PM Modi is now the first Indian PM to get this accolade as a result.

In a tweet, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, wrote: “A warm gesture expressing the spirit of India-France partnership. President @EmmanuelMacron presented PM @narendramodi with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, the highest honour in France.

PM Modi is on a two-day official visit to France. At the airport, he received a formal welcome. Elisabeth Borne, the French prime minister, met him at the airport.

PM Modi was greeted enthusiastically by the Indian community in Paris. They gave Prime Minister Modi a rousing welcome while yelling “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram.”

On April 14, PM Modi will attend the French National Day in Paris alongside French President Emmanuel Macron as the Guest of Honour. The Indian Air Force will fly past on Bastille Day, and a group from the three Indian services will participate in the parade. The 25th anniversary of the two countries’ strategic cooperation falls on the same day as PM Modi’s visit.

PM Modi chatted with the Indian community in Paris before coming for the dinner at the Elysee Palace. PM Modi tweeted, “Glimpses from a memorable community programme in Paris,” as he shared glimpses of his interactions with the Indian diaspora. Thank you to everyone who came. We are quite proud of our diaspora’s successes.

During their conversation, he emphasised the intricate connections between France and India. He asked members of the diaspora to invest in India while discussing the numerous industries in which India is developing.

Arindam Bagchi, the official spokeswoman for the Ministry of External Affairs, tweeted, “PM underlined the multifaceted links between India & France. He thanked the Indian community for advancing connections between the two countries. highlighted the advancements India is making in a number of fields and asked those living abroad to look at investment opportunities in India.

In addition, PM Modi met with his French colleague Elisabeth Borne to discuss enhancing bilateral ties and cooperation in a number of areas, such as the economy, trade, energy, environment, education, mobility, and digital public infrastructure.

“PM @narendramodi held fruitful talks with PM @elisabeth_borne in Paris,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted following the meeting. The leaders discussed ways to further boost connections between France and India as well as reviewing various aspects of their alliance.

On Thursday, he also had a meeting with Gerard Larcher, president of the French Senate, in the Palais du Luxembourg, the Senate’s residence in the sixth district of Paris.

According to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office, which provided information about the meeting, “The discussions focused on wide-ranging issues like India’s G20 priorities, democratic values in technology usage, and cooperation between the two Upper Houses. Discussions also included regional and global issues of common concern.