Chairman of the French Senate, Gérard Larcher, is on an official visit to India on Monday-Tuesday to strengthen bilateral strategic ties and parliamentary cooperation. Larcher is accompanied by a delegation of five other Senators who are members of the Senate’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee or the France-India Friendship Group. This will mark the first official visit to India of a Chairman of the French Senate and comes less than a month after President Emmanuel Macron‘s trip here.

Larcher and his delegation will meet with Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha. They will discuss ways to increase cooperation and mutual understanding between the French Senate and India’s Parliament, including through a dedicated agreement. Mr Larcher will also be given a guided tour of the new Parliament building.

The Chairman of the French Senate will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Larcher had previously met Modi during the latter’s visit to Paris on 14 July 2023, when the Prime Minister was received at the French Senate by Larcher and leaders of all major parliamentary groups.

Larcher will also meet External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, to discuss the current dynamic in bilateral relations and gain a better understanding of India’s growing geopolitical role.

During his visit, Larcher will meet with business leaders of French companies present in India, particularly in the aerospace and defence sectors, and visit sites of French companies making key contributions to “Make in India” and “Skill India”.

French Senate has 358 members who are elected through indirect universal suffrage for a term of six years. The Chairman of the Senate ensures the stability of France’s institutions as she/he is called upon to replace the President of the Republic in the event of death or resignation. The Chairman is elected for a three-year term after each renewal of the Senate membership. Larcher has been the Chairman of the Senate since October 2014, a post he also earlier held from 2008 to 2011.

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