New Delhi: The Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and France were conducted on March 5, in New Delhi to boost diplomatic relation. The high-level meeting, co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and Secretary-General of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ms. Anne-Marie Descôtes, marked a pivotal moment in the bilateral relations between the two nations.
The discussions during the FOC encompassed a comprehensive review of the progress made across various facets of bilateral cooperation, echoing the ambitious India-France Horizon 2047 Roadmap. This roadmap was adopted during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to France as the Guest of Honour at the French National Day on July 14, 2023.
Preceding the FOC, the 2nd meeting of the Strategic Space Dialogue was held on March 4, 2024, co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Kwatra and Secretary-General Descôtes. Additionally, the India-France ‘Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Dialogue’ took place, setting the stage for robust discussions.
During her visit, Secretary-General Descôtes paid a courtesy call on External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, further strengthening the diplomatic ties between the two nations.
The FOC addressed key areas of bilateral cooperation, including defense, civil nuclear energy, space, cyber and digital initiatives, artificial intelligence, science and technology, UN Security Council reforms, multilateral cooperation, blue economy, institutional dialogue mechanisms, and initiatives promoting people-to-people exchanges and cultural ties.
Furthermore, the dialogue extended its reach to global and regional affairs, touching upon critical issues such as the Indo-Pacific, climate action, energy transition, health, trilateral and plurilateral forms of cooperation, and key challenges, including the situations in Gaza and the Red Sea, as well as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Foreign Office Consultations serve as a crucial bilateral mechanism, providing cohesiveness to all existing exchanges between India and France. This meeting not only presented an opportunity to review actions across multifaceted ties but also fostered a deeper understanding and collaboration on shared priorities and challenges. The India-France relationship continues to evolve, affirming the commitment of both nations to strengthen their partnership in the years to come.
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