‘Dear Indian Friends’: Macron’s Republic Day message to India melts hearts — See the throwback photo

Posting the selfie on X, clicked during India’s 75th Republic Day celebrations last year when he was the chief guest, Macron wrote, “What a wonderful memory of the #RepublicDay we shared together in 2024!”

Extending his wishes, the French President added, “My dear friend Narendra Modi, dear Indian friends, my very best wishes on this great day of celebration. See you in February to continue building together!”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his greetings to the nation on Republic Day, expressing hope that the occasion would renew collective energy and enthusiasm towards building a Viksit Bharat.

“Best wishes on Republic Day,” Modi wrote on X.

“May this occasion add renewed energy and enthusiasm in our collective resolve to build a Viksit Bharat,” he said.

The main Republic Day celebrations were held at Kartavya Path in New Delhi, with President Droupadi Murmu presiding over the ceremonial proceedings.

This year, Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, attended the event as chief guests.

India and France share a long-standing and robust strategic partnership, marked by close and friendly relations across multiple sectors. The partnership was formally launched on January 26, 1998, making France India’s first strategic partner. It reflects the shared vision of both countries to strengthen their strategic autonomy through enhanced bilateral cooperation.

According to the Indian Embassy in France, defence and security, civil nuclear cooperation, and space form the core pillars of this partnership, which now also includes a strong Indo-Pacific dimension.

In recent years, cooperation has expanded to areas such as the digital sphere, cybersecurity, advanced computing, climate action, the blue economy, and renewable and sustainable development."

Defence and security, civil nuclear matters and space constitute the principal pillars of this strategic cooperation which now includes a strong Indo-Pacific component.

"In recent years, the partnership has broadened to include cooperation in digital sphere, cyber security and advanced computing, climate change, blue economy, and renewable and sustainable development, among other things," reads the Indian Embassy in France's website.