Looking forward to meeting my friend Donald Trump: PM Modi ahead of US visit

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said he is looking forward to meeting his "friend" Donald Trump ahead of his two-day visit to US.

In his departure statement, PM Modi said that he has a "very warm recollection of working with the US President in his first term".

"My visit to US will be an opportunity to develop an agenda to further elevate and deepen India-US partnership," he said.

PM Modi will visit US for two days on February 12 and 13.

The Prime Minister said that his US visit will be an opportunity to build upon the successes of his collaboration with Trump in his first term and develop an agenda to further elevate and deepen bilateral ties across areas like technology, trade, defence, energy and supply chain resilience.

"We will work together for the mutual benefit of the people of our two countries and shape a better future for the world," he said.

PM Modi also spoke about his visit to France, which will precede his US visit, saying that he looking forward to attending the AI Action Summit along with French President Emmanuel Macron.

"At the invitation of President Macron, I will be visiting France from 10 to 12 February. In Paris, I look forward to co-chairing the AI Action Summit, a gathering of the world leaders and global tech CEOs, where we will exchange views on collaborative approach to AI technology for innovation and larger public good in an inclusive, secure and trustworthy manner," he said.

He said that the visit will offer an opportunity to review the progress on 2047 Horizon Roadmap for India-France strategic partnership along with "my friend President Macron."

The Prime Minister will also travel to the historic French city of Marseille to inaugurate the first Indian Consulate in France and also visit the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project.

During his visit, PM Modi said he will pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during World Wars I and II at the Mazargues War Cemetery.