On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Paris to attend the welcome dinner hosted by Emmanuel Macron, the French President, at the Elysee Palace before the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit. On Modi’s arrival, President Macron welcomed his beloved "friend", the Prime Minister of India, with a big warm hug.

On his social media handle X, President Macron posted a video of PM Modi arriving at the Elysee Palace for the welcome dinner, "Welcome to Paris, my friend @narendramodi ".

At the event, Prime Minister Modi met several world leaders set to attend the AI Summit, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance. This marked the first meeting between the two leaders since Vance was sworn in last month. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) also shared photos of the three leaders engaging in conversation during the welcome dinner.

As soon as Prime Minister Modi landed in Paris, he was given a grand welcome by the Indian community. Photos show PM Modi waving and shaking hands with them. He wrote, "A memorable welcome in Paris! The cold weather didn't deter the Indian community from showing their affection this evening. Grateful to our diaspora and proud of them for their accomplishments ".

In his departure statement, the Prime Minister mentioned that the bilateral segment of his visit would offer a chance to assess the progress of the 2047 Horizon Roadmap for the India-France strategic partnership alongside his "friend," President Macron.

After today's AI Summit, Prime Minister Modi and President Macron will travel to Marseille, where Macron will host a dinner in Modi's honour. On Wednesday, the two leaders will visit the Mazargues War Cemetery in Marseille to pay homage to Indian soldiers who fought and lost their lives in World War I. Maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the cemetery is the final resting place for many Indian soldiers who served in France during the war.

Modi and Macron will jointly inaugurate the Consulate General of India in Marseille.

Prime Minister Modi's visit to France will conclude with an important stop at Cadarache, home to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). This major scientific collaboration, in which India plays a crucial role, is focused on developing clean nuclear fusion energy.

The AI Action Summit is set to take place today, bringing together world leaders and top tech executives to deliberate on the future of artificial intelligence. The event seeks to promote collaboration on AI's ethical and responsible development, which could be crucial in shaping the global economy.

The summit was previously held in the UK in 2023 and in South Korea in 2024.