French President Emmanuel Macron, who is the chief guest for India’s showpiece Republic Day parade in New Delhi, arrived in Jaipur on Thursday (January 25).
The visit comes amid India and France negotiating multi-billion dollar defence deals which includes buying 26 Rafale M fighter jets for the Indian Navy’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, and submarines. France is the second largest arms supplier of India.
According to reports, he was received by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Governor Kalraj Mishra at the Jaipur airport this afternoon. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join him in Jaipur later in the day, the Rajasthan CM tweeted on receiving him at the airport.
“Come to my country!” he posted, felicitating President Emmanuel Macron at the airport in Rajasthan, and welcoming him in the “sacred land of bravery and sacrifice.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is visiting Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr, will join the French president in Jaipur and visit heritage sites and attend a roadshow together.
Macron is scheduled to visit the Amer Fort, where a cultural event will be hosted.
Media reports said PM Modi will join him for the tour of the UNESCO heritage site Jantar Mantar and also visit the iconic Hawa Mahal.
A private dinner has been planned for Macron at the Rambag Palace, reports said.