PM Modi, French President Macron meet each other at Jantar Mantar in Jaipur
Jaipur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday met at Jantar Mantar here ahead of their roadshow.
Modi reached the observatory from Jaipur airport while Macron came to the site after visiting Amber Fort.
The two leaders met there and hugged each other. Later, they visited the observatory.
Jantar Mantar is one of the oldest astronomical observatories featuring the world's largest stone sundial.
Macron's visit caps the 25th-anniversary celebrations of the India-France Strategic Partnership.
Ahead of the French President's visit, the pink city of Jaipur was decked up with posters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Macron.
Macron is visiting India as the chief guest at the 75th Republic Day celebrations on the invitation of PM Modi.
On this occasion, a French armed forces contingent will participate in the Republic Day parade and flypast alongside Indian troops and aviators.
Following their tour, Macron and PM Modi will hold in-depth bilateral talks.
Later on January 26, President Macron will attend the Republic Day parade as the chief guest.
"He will attend the At Home reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan and, later, the State Banquet, at the invitation of the Hon'ble President of India, H.E. Smt Droupadi Murmu," an official statement stated.
Notably, Macron has previously been in India on a state visit in March 2018 and on an official visit in September 2023 for the Delhi G20 Summit. Moreover, he has welcomed PM Modi to France on four occasions. Macron's state visit marks France's sixth participation, the highest of any other nation, as chief guest on India's Republic Day.
