Jaipur: Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani emphasized that the deep-rooted and evolving strategic partnership between India and France continues to foster the shared values of liberty, equality, and fraternity in both nations.
During his official visit to France, Devnani toured key parliamentary and administrative institutions in the French capital, Paris. A highlight of his visit was the tour of the French National Assembly, where he explored France’s geographic landscape, multicultural society, and the influence of its diverse regions across its 551,695 square kilometers.
In a high-level meeting with Thierry Tession, senior member of the French National Assembly and Chairperson of the India-France Parliamentary Friendship Group, Devnani underscored the strong diplomatic ties championed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. He emphasized India’s call for global unity and cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
Devnani noted that Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to France (February 10–12) resulted in the signing of 10 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering critical sectors including nuclear technology and artificial intelligence.
He highlighted a major milestone in educational collaboration: currently, 10,000 Indian students are pursuing studies in France, with plans underway to triple that number to 30,000, reinforcing bilateral academic exchange.
Discussions with French counterparts also addressed a broad range of strategic and developmental areas such as joint efforts against global terrorism, digital innovation, smart city development, cultural cooperation, nuclear energy, environmental sustainability, and modular nuclear reactors.
Reflecting on the India-France strategic alliance, which was formally established in 1998, Devnani stated that the partnership has matured into a comprehensive and multifaceted collaboration. Sectors such as defense, cybersecurity, space research, nuclear power, and counterterrorism continue to see robust joint engagement.
He also referred to India’s procurement of 26 additional Rafale fighter jets in April 2025 as a clear indication of growing defense cooperation. Regular joint military drills in France further demonstrate the enhanced interoperability between both armed forces.
Devnani pointed to recent MoUs in smart urban planning, the Indo-Pacific Corridor, climate action (through institutions like the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and International North–South Transport Corridor), and startup innovation, all of which position India’s tech-driven growth on the global platform.
He also spotlighted collaboration on artificial intelligence and small modular reactors—key to green energy and long-term energy resilience.
On the cultural front, Devnani linked the principles of the 1789 French Revolution—liberty, equality, and fraternity—with India's own independence movement and constitutional values, calling them a shared philosophical legacy.
Beyond diplomacy, Devnani’s visit served as a bridge for Rajasthan’s cultural richness and India’s democratic ethos. He keenly observed France’s demographic fabric, which includes communities from North and Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Europe, and a predominantly French citizenry.
He particularly praised France’s constitutional principle of Laïcité (secularism) and the peaceful coexistence of multiple religions including Christianity (mainly Roman Catholicism), Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and an expanding non-religious population.
While studying France’s semi-presidential political system, Devnani gained insights into the distribution of power between the directly elected President, the Prime Minister appointed by the President, and the bicameral Parliament comprising the Senate and the National Assembly.
He also took note of France’s Napoleonic Civil Code and its transparent, multi-party electoral system—models that continue to inspire democratic governance in Rajasthan and across India.
During his visit, Devnani engaged with French lawmakers, academics, and the Indian diaspora, contributing to a renewed momentum in Indo-French cooperation across education, science, technology, and parliamentary diplomacy.