Sir— This refers to the editorial, “The French connection” (March 13). Relations between India and France have traditionally been cordial with both countries leveraging bilateral cooperation and exchanges in strategic areas like defence, counter-terrorism, nuclear energy and space. From being the first major power to appreciate India’s security predicaments and open dialogue despite the latter’s nuclear adventurism in the Third World to signing the 1998 Strategic Agreement and endorsing India’s candidature for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, France has never shied away from setting out a detailed framework for a privileged bilateral partnership. It is imperative for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to carry the legacy forward by building more bridges with European nations, France in particular, if India is to add credibility to its grand claims of relations with the world powerhouses.
That French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India has provided a broader underpinning to the overall bilateral partnership by signing of Memorandum of Understandings to strengthen business-to-business linkages and people-to-people contacts is welcome.
The renewed commitment to the promotion of global solar power under the International Solar Alliance is expected to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and correct India’s impression as an obstructionist outlier in sharing climate change responsibility globally.