India, France to join hands on Paris pact

Leaders of the two countries also vow to unite to boost maritime security and fight against terrorism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron hold hands as they speak in the garden of the Elysee Palace in Paris following their meeting on June 3, 2017.

India and France on Saturday vowed to work together for the implementation of the landmark Paris climate agreement and fight the challenge posed by terrorism, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi met newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron here.

Mr. Modi said India was committed to “go above and beyond” the Paris deal to protect climate for future generations as he termed the U.N.-brokered agreement a shared legacy of the world, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump walked out of the accord. After holding two hours of wide-ranging talks with Mr. Macron at the presidential Elysee Palace here, Mr. Modi said the Paris climate deal reflects “our duty towards protecting the mother Earth and our natural resources. For us, this (protection of environment) is an article of faith.”

 

Shared legacy

“Paris climate agreement is a shared legacy of the world. It will benefit the future generations as well,” Mr. Modi said addressing a joint press event with Mr. Macron.

Describing the city of Paris as an important part of his political journey, the Prime Minister said India and France had worked shoulder-to-shoulder for this agreement.

On his part, Mr. Macron said he wants to restate France’s full commitment to the fight against climate warming.

The two leaders voiced concern over the growing threat of terrorism worldwide. “Terrorism is one of the biggest challenges the world is facing today,” Mr. Modi said.

“We cannot see the danger of climate change but we can see the horrific effects of terrorism, we can feel it. Innocent people, women, children lose their lives to terror. Every child in France knows the face of terror,” Mr. Modi said, referring to a series of terror attacks that rocked France in recent years.

Mr. Macron said, “We are committed to work together in defence cooperation, maritime security and fighting terrorism on the Internet. France will stand by India in the fight against terrorism.”

Mr. Modi invited the French president to visit India. Mr. Macron said he would visit New Delhi by the end of the year for an international summit on solar power.