PM Modi emplanes for France to attend G7 Summit, will speak on global issues

PTI, Aug 25, 2019, 12:44 PM IST

Manama: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday left for France from here to attend the G7 Summit where he will speak on burning global issues of environment, climate and digital transformation and also meet world leaders.

Modi, who was in Manama on the third leg of his three-nation tour to France, the UAE and Bahrain, concluded his visit with prayers at the 200-year-old Shreenathji Temple in Manama, the oldest temple in the region.

During the G7 Summit, which will be held in the picturesque seaside French town of Biarritz, the Prime Minister will address sessions on environment, climate, oceans and digital transformation.

Though India is not a member of the G-7 grouping, Modi has been personally invited by the French President Emmanuel Macron.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said that the invitation was a “reflection of the personal chemistry” between the two leaders and also “recognition of India as a major economic power”.

The countries which are part of the G7 include the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the US.

On the sidelines of the G7 Summit, Modi and US President Donald Trump are likely to discuss the situation in Kashmir, trade issues and other topics of mutual interest.

Earlier this week in Washington, Trump said that he would discuss with Prime Minister Modi the situation in Kashmir and help ease the Indo-Pak tensions when they meet at the G7 Summit in France this weekend.

Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after India abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcated it into two Union Territories, evoking strong reactions from Pakistan.

India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was an internal matter and also advised Pakistan to accept the reality.

Modi is also expected to meet the new British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The two leaders spoke on phone earlier this week and agreed on the importance of working together to tackle climate change and other threats to biodiversity.

Modi and Johnson also spoke on the need to further strenghten the bilateral partnership, particularly through trade and economic relations.

“The bilateral visit to France and the invitation to G7 Summit are in keeping with the tradition of strong and close partnership and high level political contacts between India and France,” the MEA said in a press statement ahead of the prime minister’s visit.