On the third and final day of his France visit on Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi visited the historic Mazargues Cemetery in Marseille with French President Emmanuel Macron and paid tribute to Indian soldiers who fought in World War I and World War II, many of whom are cremated there. 

Noting that freedom fighter Veer Savarkar attempted a “courageous escape” in Marseille, PM Modi wrote on X,  “In India’s quest for freedom, this city holds special significance. It was here that the great Veer Savarkar attempted a courageous escape. I also want to thank the people of Marseille and the French activists of that time who demanded that he not be handed over to British custody. The bravery of Veer Savarkar continues to inspire generations!”.

Savarkar had attempted his escape on July 8, 1910, from HMS Morea, by slipping through a porthole and swimming ashore. He was captured by French authorities and handed back to officials on the ship. 

PM Modi also inaugurated the Indian Consulate in Marseille and said that it will deepen ties between the two countries. “President Macron and I reached Marseille a short while ago. This visit will witness important programmes aimed at further connecting India and France. The Indian consulate which is being inaugurated will deepen people-to-people linkages. I will also pay homage to the Indian soldiers martyred in the First and Second World Wars,” the PM wrote earlier in the day.

Prime Minister Modi received a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora at a hotel in Marseille. “We have been staying here for the past 4 years…I met PM Modi now…he was very happy to meet us and we also felt really happy,” Priyanka Sharma, a member of the diaspora, told news agency ANI.

Apart from visiting a logistics centre, PM Modi and Mr Macron will also take a tour of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project in Cadarache in southern France. India has committed Rs 17,500 crore, which is about 10% of the project’s cost. India has also contributed the biggest component in the project – the world’s largest refrigerator that houses this unique reactor.

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the French city of Marseille on Wednesday, where he said freedom fighter VD “Veer” Savarkar attempted a “courageous escape”. This will be the last day of his three-day visit to France, where he inaugurate the second Indian consulate in the country after the Embassy in Paris. After he concludes the French tour, he will embark on a US visit on February 13. He was welcomed in Paris On February 10 by a encouraging turnout of the Indian community.

What’s On The Agenda Today?

On the last day of his three-day France visit, on the agenda are programmes to deepen India-French ties, like the opening of India’s second consulate in the country and a ceremony to pay homage to soldiers who died in First and Second World Wars at the Mazargues War Cemetery. Further, Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron will also take a tour of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, an international nuclear fusion collaboration.

Also Read | Scientists Try To Build Mini Sun In France, With A Big India Link

India’s France Connection During British Colonial Rule

PM Modi thanked the people of Marseille and French activists for their role on the Indian freedom struggle, when they “demanded that he not be handed over to British custody”.

During the British rule, Savarkar had tried to escape from British ship Morea in July 1910 while being taken to India for trial. He escape from the ship’s porthole, swam ashore and was returned to the British authorities by the French authorities who caught him. He was later sentenced to life imprisonment at Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

What Happened On Tuesday?

PM Modi and Mr Macron addressed the AI Action Summit and the 14th India-France CEOs Forum in Paris. Speaking at the event, PM Modi said, “This is more than just a business event–it’s a convergence of the brightest minds from India and France. You are embracing the mantra of innovation, collaboration, and elevation, driving progress with purpose. Beyond forging boardroom connections, you are actively reinforcing the strategic partnership between India and France.”

The AI Action Summit in Paris is a commendable effort to bring together world leaders, policy makers, thinkers, innovators and youngsters to have meaningful conversations around AI. pic.twitter.com/kSXy0FhuIT

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 11, 2025

He also underlined the deep trust and shared values between India and France, citing democratic values, innovation, and serving the people as the pillars of their friendship.

“India and France aren’t just connected by democratic values. Deep trust, innovation, and serving the people are the pillars of our friendship. Our relationship isn’t limited to just our two nations. Together, we’re providing solutions to global problems,” PM Modi added.

PM Modi also met US Vice President J D Vance and his Indian-origin wife along with their two young sons on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit. The Prime Minister was seen holding bilateral talks with Vance, while his wife Usha watched on.

Had a wonderful meeting with US @VP @JDVance and his family. We had a great conversation on various subjects. Delighted to join them in celebrating the joyous birthday of their son, Vivek! pic.twitter.com/gZpmt1jg5M

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 11, 2025

On the sidelines of the Summit, he also met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Paris.

Why Marseille Matters

Marseille is a key gateway for trade between India and France due to its strategic location on the Mediterranean coast, it is also among the entry points for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

Paris:

Google CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted the “incredible opportunities” that artificial intelligence (AI) will bring to India, following his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit in Paris.

The Alphabet CEO also noted the potential for close collaboration between “we” (Google) and India to advance the country’s digital transformation.

He said,” Delighted to meet with PM Narendra Modi today while in Paris for the AI Action Summit. We discussed the incredible opportunities AI will bring to India and ways we can work closely together on India’s digital transformation.”

Earlier in the day, PM Modi addressed the India-France CEOs Forum in Paris, stating that the forum plays a key role in strengthening economic ties and “fostering” innovation.

He also noted that business leaders from India and France are coming together to create new opportunities across key sectors, which he believes will drive growth and investment for future generations.

Speaking at the event, PM Modi added, “This is more than just a business event–it’s a convergence of the brightest minds from India and France. You are embracing the mantra of innovation, collaboration, and elevation, driving progress with purpose. Beyond forging boardroom connections, you are actively reinforcing the strategic partnership between India and France.”

He further stated that India and France share deep trust and common values, saying, “India and France aren’t just connected by democratic values. Deep trust, innovation, and serving the people are the pillars of our friendship. Our relationship isn’t limited to just our two nations. Together, we’re providing solutions to global problems.”
PM Modi also co-chaired the AI Action Summit with French President Emmanuel Macron. The week-long summit concluded with a high-level segment attended by global leaders, policymakers, and industry experts, highlighting the growing collaboration between India and France in technology and innovation.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)