- Title: France's Hollande in India for talks on trade and security
- Date: 24th January 2016
- Summary: CHANDIGARH, INDIA (JANUARY 24, 2016) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI - BROADCASTERS: NO ACCESS BBC DIGITAL: NO ACCESS BBC) VARIOUS OF FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS HOLLANDE'S PLANE ON TARMAC HOLLANDE WALKING DOWN FROM PLANE PUPPET SHOW TO WELCOME HOLLANDE HOLLANDE GREETING DIGNITARIES AND WALKING TO MICROPHONE (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, SAYING: "Ladies and gentlemen, I have just arrived in India for my second trip since the beginning of my five-year term. But this trip is special because I am invited to celebrate Republic Day with the French troops that'll be joining the military parade. It is the best symbol to illustrate the relations between France and India. Beyond the strategic partnership that we have had over the years, there has been for months the willingness to work in the same direction. I will talk about two. First is security because we are affected by regional crisis and also terrorism. Both countries have been hit, so together we will increase our exchanges, cooperation between services and act to reinforce our military equipment. It is part of the agenda for this trip but there is a second subject following the success of COP 21, in Paris, in December where Prime Minister Modi played a very important role in its success by his initiatives and the concepts he formulated, for example: "climatic justice". So we are going to translate our common drive to implement as fast as possible the Paris agreement in launching here the Solar Alliance. It is an epic adventure where our companies, there are numerous of them here, will be welcomed in India - first in line and I hope in avant-garde - concerning the equipment necessary to produce solar energy, for energy efficiency and to store energy. Numerous job opportunities are also in line during this trip on top of the diplomatic, political and military agenda. It is progressing, you do know that when Prime minister Modi went to Paris he announced the order of 36 planes, but with certain conditions. The idea is to have an inter-governmental agreement between both countries so that relevant companies are able to get to the end of the process. So here, we are going to turn another corner. It goes in the direction, we all hope, of India acquiring 36 Rafales because India needs them, and France demonstrated that they were the best planes in the world. The contract itself can only be signed after the inter-governmental agreement. It is the inter-governmental agreement, it was the wish of our Indian friends, that will allow the commercial agreement. The inter-governmental pact is going to be discussed on this trip." / HOLLAND LEAVING
- Embargoed: 7th February 2016 09:06
- Keywords: Chandigarh Republic Day Francois Hollande France India
- Location: CHANDIGARH, INDIA
- City: CHANDIGARH, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00141ER13B
- Story Text:
- Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
