Modi likely to visit France in 2015, dates still to be fixed

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit France some time this year, French official sources today said. The sources said that French Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius’s meeting with his Indian counterpart during his official visit to India starting Thursday will also contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit. Fabius is scheduled to arrive in India tomorrow to hold bilateral meetings with several union ministers and also call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will also take part in Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS). [caption id=“attachment_2080457” align=“aligncenter” width=“380”]  PM Modi going to France soon. PTI [/caption]French sources said that Jacques Audibert, Diplomatic Advisor to the French President, had met Modi during his visit to India earlier and the Prime Minister had them confirmed his visit to France in 2015. “We welcome his trip. This visit of Laurent Fabius and his meeting with external affairs minister Sushama Swaraj will also contribute to the preparations of his (Modi) visit,” a source said. The sources, however, declined to specify the dates despite being asked repeatedly saying dates were not available as of now. Asked whether any agreement will be signed during Fabius’s visit, the source said if agreements are to be signed, it will be most probably when the Prime Minister Modi visits France. Asked whether any agreement or discussion on counter- terrorism was on the card during Fabius’s visit, the source said that counter-terrorism has always been a part of the dialogue with India and both countries have a strong cooperation which both nations expect to continue it in future. “After the terrorist attack last month in Paris, we received thousands of messages from India starting with the Prime Minister, President and several other dignitaries. The intensity of friendship message we received from India is very dear to our heart,” one of the sources said. PTI