PM Modi Visits Mazargues War Cemetery In France, Inaugurates The Indian Consulate Videos

(MENAFN- Live Mint) Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to fallen Indian soldiers on Wednesday during a visit to the Mazargues War Cemetery in France. He also inaugurated the Indian consulate in Marseilles before greeting the Indian diaspora with French President Emmanuel Macron. The two leaders jointly inaugurated the new consulate with the press of a button amid cheers from the gathered crowd .

According to an official statement the two leaders also held talks during their trip to Marseille - discussing bilateral relations as well as global and regional issues . A related statement from the Prime Minister's Office added that the two leaders had reaffirmed strong commitment to the India-France Strategic Partnership.

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Visuals shared online showed Modi laying a wreath at the cemetery in honour of Indian soldiers who had laid down their lives while defending foreign lands during the World Wars. Modi and Macron also walked among the tombstone markers as they paid their respects at the site. Modi was seen paying tribute with folded hands and a gentle bow at the iconic site that also has an 'Indian Memorial'.

The Mazargues War Cemetery pays homage to the soldiers who laid down their lives fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with their French counterparts during World War I.

Interactions with Indian diaspora

Modi and Macron also interacted with members of the Indian diaspora during their visit to Marseille. A crowd had gathered for the inauguration of the new consulate - with many people bearing the national flags of both India and France. Others were spotted adding a splash of colour to the occasion with tricoloured headgear. The two leaders were also seen interacting with a section of the people in the crowd after the ceremony.

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The Ministry of External Affairs said the two leaders had discussed“full spectrum of bilateral relations and key global and regional issues” while flying together from Paris to Marseille in the French Presidential Aircraft. This was followed by delegation level talks after arrival. According to an official statement the two leaders reaffirmed their strong commitment to the India-France Strategic Partnership during the talks.

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