Guwahati: In a strategic, India-France partnership, the two leaders shall work on a blueprint together for global good. Also stock of the regional and global outlook and global security cussed ways were taken to strengthen the partnership.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held extensive discussions on a range of bilateral and pressing global issues, including the raging conflict in Ukraine, the situation in the Indo-Pacific, and terrorism, as the two top leaders agreed on a blueprint to work together in making the India-France strategic partnership a force for global good.

Modi, who arrived here on a brief working visit from Denmark on the final leg of his three-nation European tour, held one-on-one and delegation-level talks with Macron at the Elysee Palace on Wednesday night in their first meeting after the French leader.

Modi and Macron held discussions on the entire range of bilateral issues, including cooperation in defense, space, and blue economy, civil, nuclear, and people-to-people ties, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a press release.

The two leaders also took stock of the regional and global outlook and global security cussed ways to work together in making the India France Strategic Partnership a force for the global good. The Prime Minister's visit to France displayed the strong friendship and goodwill not only between the two countries but also between the two leaders, the release said.

Prime Minister Modi invited President Macron to visit India at the earliest opportunity, the MEA release said. India and France are strong strategic partners. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters here. Macron's renewed mandate and the conversations between Prime Minister Modi and the French President allow the two countries to build on the existing strengths and success of the India, France strategic partnership and also jot out a blueprint for its next phase, he said.

"The two leaders held wide-ranging discussions on all the key areas of bilateral engagement, including in defense, space, civil nuclear cooperation, and people-to-people linkages. They also discussed regional and global issues, including developments in Europe and the Indo-Pacific. India and France see each other as key partners in the Indo-Pacific, Kwatra said.

According to a joint press statement issued after the meeting, India, and France in a post-pandemic world, facing global geopolitical challenges - reaffirmed their commitment to preparing for the future together by further deepening their cooperation, and expanding it in new domains to meet emerging challenges and broadening their international partnership.

Source- PTI