PM Modi France visit, Day 2: “Proud to welcome India as our guest of honour,” says French President Emmanuel Macron — check Bastille Day Parade images, videos, itinerary

PM Modi in France, Day 2, Bastille Day: On the second day of his two-day visit to France, Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined President Emmanuel Macron for the French National Day — Bastille Day — celebrations in Paris as the Guest of Honour on Friday. The Bastille Day parade is all the more special this year as a 269-member contingent of Indian tri-services is  participating in it and three Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF) joined the flypast along with French jets. Here is the complete itinerary of the second day of PM Modi’s visit to France, all about Bastille Day and videos and images from the French National Day parade —  

PM Modi in France: Watch videos from Bastille Day Parade

* PM Modi joins President Emmanuel Macron for the French National Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour

* French President Emmanuel Macron arrives for the Bastille Day parade at Champs-Élysées 

* Indian tri-services contingent flies over Paris while showcasing the French national flag during the Bastille Day Parade

* PM Modi and President Emmanuel Macron watch as Indian tri-services contingent flies over the Bastille Day Parade 

* Indian Army’s Punjab Regiment, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy contingents march during Bastille Day Parade

* French President Emmanuel Macron tweets, “A giant in world history, with a decisive role to play in the future, a strategic partner, a friend.  We are proud to welcome India as our guest of honour at the 14 July parade.”

*PM Modi France visit: PM, French President Macron meet notable dignitaries at the Bastille Day Parade in Paris

PM Modi in France: What is Bastille Day?

The French National Day — popularly called Bastille Day — has a special place in France’s history as it signifies the storming of the Bastille prison during 1789’s French Revolution. The Bastille Day parade is the highlight of the French National Day celebrations.

PM Modi in France: Day 2 itinerary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit

Here is the itinerary of day two of Prime Minister Modi’s official visit to France — 

1) Prime Minister Modi to be the Guest of Honour at the Bastille Day Parade, 
2) PM to meet the president of the French National Assembly Yael Braun-Pivet,
3) PM to attend a series of interactions with thought leaders and businesspeople.

PM Modi France visit, Day 2: French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes PM Modi to France 

Early on Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron had tweeted in Hindi, welcoming PM Modi to Paris: “भारत और फ्रांस 25 साल की रणनीतिक साझेदारी तथा विश्वास और दोस्ती के सदैव मजबूत बंधन का जश्न मना रहे हैं।  प्रिय @NarendraModi, पैरिस में हार्दिक स्वागत! (India and France are celebrating 25 years of strategic partnership made of trust and friendship, which are only getting stronger with time. Dear @NarendraModi, welcome to Paris.)”

PM Modi France visit, Day 2: PM conferred with France’s highest award Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour 

Upon being conferred with France’s highest award Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, PM Modi tweeted: “It is with great humility that I accept the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. This is an honour for the 140 crore people of India. I thank President @EmmanuelMacron, the French Government and people for this gesture. It shows their deep affection towards India and resolve for furthering friendship with our nation.”