Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an event of the Indian community in Paris, France. Photo: PMO via PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (June 18, 2026) left for New Delhi after concluding his two-nation visit to France and Slovakia during which he attended the G-7 summit and held bilateral meetings with several world leaders.
“This visit to France has been wide-ranging in terms of engagement and outcomes. It started in Nice, where the India Innovates event was held, followed by Evian for the G7 and then to Paris, where I addressed VivaTech 2026 and a large community event, as well as met CEOs,” Mr Modi said in a social media post.
He said, “I am especially grateful to my friend President Macron, the government and the people of France for their warmth. India-France friendship will become even stronger in the times to come.”
Mr Modi addressed the Indian diaspora earlier in the day and said India was emerging as a “reliable partner” for the world.
Shri Modi also said that this is a defining phase of India’s journey, where aspirations are reaching new heights.
“It is always special to interact with the Indian diaspora and highlight the collective progress of 140 crore Indians,” Mr Modi said in a post on Twitter.
Mr Modi also addressed the technology forum VivaTech 2026 in Paris and strongly pitched for democratization of technology and said AI means “all-inclusive” for India.
Mr Modi highlighted India’s technological potential and said half of global digital transactions were taking place in the country.
Mr Modi was in the French commune of Evian-les-Bains on Tuesday and Wednesday for the G7 summit, to which India was invited as the guest country.
On the sidelines of the G7 summit, Mr Modi met world leaders including US President Donald Trump, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, top EU leader Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
In his meeting with Mr Trump, Mr Modi raised the issue of safety of sailors and urged that their safety be given top priority during the implementation of Washington’s peace deal with Iran.
Earlier, Mr Modi concluded a “historic and fruitful” visit to Slovakia.
He said, “The outcome of this visit will greatly help in strengthening bilateral relations between our countries. Strong trade relations will greatly benefit our youth. Gratitude to the Government and people of Slovakia for this warmth.”
His visit to Slovakia was the first by an Indian Prime Minister.
During his visit, India and Slovakia elevated their relations to a comprehensive partnership and signed 11 agreements to expand bilateral cooperation in a number of areas such as migration, digital technology and defence.
published – June 19, 2026 02:36 am IST
