To give a boost to the student exchange program, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna on Wednesday said her country has set a target of enrolling 20,000 Indian students in higher institutions by 2025. Addressing the students of Lady Shri Ram College here, he said, "People-to-people contact is essential... We want 20,000 Indian students in France by 2025." We are starting from close to 5000... it is very ambitious.'
Katherine said, 'Our business schools are highly ranked. We are working hard for skill development. He then met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at Hyderabad House.
Emphasis on the mobility of students
In his first official visit to India, Colonna emphasized the mobility of students between the two countries and said that a strong people-to-people relationship is key.' India and France are fully committed to taking forward the implementation of the Partnership Agreement on Migration and Mobility, which entered into force on October 1, 2021.
During the final leg of his 3-nation Europe tour in May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, where the two leaders dealt with the irregular migration between the two countries. Discussed ways to jointly increase the mobility of students, professionals, and skilled workers while strengthening their efforts to tackle the problem.
Highlighting the strong ties between India and France, he said, "Our partnership for decades is not only strategic but also binds our hearts and minds."
'International strategy for gender equality
Talking about gender equality, the French Foreign Minister said, 'We have adopted an international strategy on gender equality (2018-2022), which includes all external actions of France. The objective of this strategy is to promote a strong institutional culture of gender equality and consideration of gender issues within the Ministry and its agencies. We are working out a new strategy that will be launched in 2023.
He also highlighted that his country has organized a Generation Equality Forum in 2021 along with Mexico and UN Women. In addition, President Emmanuel Macron launched an aid fund for feminist organizations in the Global South. In addition, French law mandates that 75 percent of projects funded by France's official development aid help promote gender equality by 2025.
'Macron would be very happy to be back in India'
Underlining the 75th anniversary of Indo-French diplomatic relations, he said, "We will next year celebrate 25 years of Indo-French strategic ties (in 1998, India and France entered into a strategic partnership). We are strong and reliable partners. My President Emmanuel Macron will be very happy to be back in India to participate in the anniversary of the Strategic Partnership.'
Colona has come on a two-day visit to India
Colona will be on an India tour from 14-15 September. They aim to move forward with an ambitious agenda of deepening and expanding the Indo-French strategic partnership ahead of the 25th anniversary next year. The visit also demonstrates France's unwavering commitment to the Indo-Pacific and its determination to work with India to find common solutions to global disorders.
According to an official statement, Minister Colonna will meet the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, on September 14 and convey France's full support for India's upcoming G20 presidency. She will then exchange talks with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar on regional and global topics of common interest on issues under consideration in the UN Security Council, which is currently chaired by France.
I will also meet National Security Advisor Ajit Doval
In addition, the French Foreign Minister will also meet National Security Adviser Ajit Doval to discuss regional and global security issues, strengthen defense cooperation, as well as implement France's counter-terrorism cooperation with India, which this year will see in the 'No. Money for Terror' is hosting the conference.
As part of the trip, Colonna will travel to Mumbai on September 15 to visit industry leaders and the site.
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