PM to be Chief Guest at French National Day

New Delhi, Jul 10 (PTI) Reflecting the closeness in
Indo-French ties, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be
the Chief Guest of Honour at France's National Day on July 14,
becoming the first Indian leader to have such a rare honour.

Singh, who will visit Paris on his way to Sharm-el Shaikh
in Egypt for the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, has been
extended the invitation by President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Sarkozy was the Chief Guest at the Republic Day last year
and his invitation to Singh is a gesture of reciprocation.

"This is a symbol of close partnership between the two
countries, partnership which is at the service of peace,
stability and development," French Ambassador to India Jerome
Bonnafont told a group of reporters here.

France does not have the custom of inviting foreign heads
of governments or states to be the Chief Guest and only on few
occasions is this honour bestowed on foreign leaders.

A contingent of 400 soldiers from the three Defence
Services of India will also participate in the French National
Day Parade to be held on the occasion in Paris. This will mark
commemoration of Indian army's association with its French
counterpart during the two World Wars.

At this year's celebrations, Cambodian President Hun Sen,
who will be on a bilateral visit to France, will also be the
Guest of Honour along with German President Horst Kochler.

During the visit, Singh and Sarkozy will have 'working'
lunch discussing ways to meet the bilateral trade target of 12
billion Euros in the face of the global economic crisis. PTI
AKK
DDC
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