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Macron's India Visit: AI Partnerships & "Choose France" Push Conclude Trip

French President Emmanuel Macron concluded his visit to India by sharing a grateful "Thank You India!" note on social media. His final day featured key discussions at the AI Summit, including talks with Google CEO Sundar Pichai on digital challenges and the G7 presidency's priorities. Macron also met with Meta's chief AI officer, Alexandr Wang, discussing France's tech strengths and measures to protect youth on social media. The visit underscored the robust India-France strategic partnership, which Macron described as being at its "highest point," with a strong focus on deepening cooperation in technology and innovation.

Key Points: Macron Concludes India Visit, Meets Pichai & Modi at AI Summit

  • Macron concludes India visit with "Thank You" note
  • Holds AI talks with Google CEO Sundar Pichai
  • Discusses youth safety & investment with Meta's AI chief
  • Lauds India-France ties at "highest point"
  • Attended India AI Impact Summit 2026
3 min read

"Thank You, India!": French President Macron concludes his visit

French President Macron ends India trip, highlights AI cooperation with Google & Meta, and lauds bilateral ties at its "highest point" with PM Modi.

"Solutions to our digital challenges are not found on Google, but built with Google and all stakeholders. - Emmanuel Macron"

New Delhi, February 20

French President Emmanuel Macron shared a "Thank You" note to India as he concluded his visit during which he also attended the AI Summit in India.

In a post on X, Macron shared a video of his best moment in India with a "Thank You India!" note, appreciating the warm welcome he received during the visit.

On his last day of the visit, Macron had a discussion with Google CEO Sundar Pichai at the AI Summit.

In a post on X, Macron said, "Solutions to our digital challenges are not found on Google, but built with Google and all stakeholders. At the Delhi AI Summit, together with Sundar Pichai, we discussed the priorities of the French G7 Presidency. And I shared one message: Choose France!"

Pichai said he enjoyed the discussion with the French President and discussed how France's technology strengths position it well for the future.

"With its leadership of the G7, France has a pivotal role to play in unlocking the opportunities of AI, and we are proud to be a partner," he said in a post on X.

Macron also held discussions with Meta's chief AI officer Alexandr Wang.

"Constructive discussions with Alexandr Wang from Meta at the Delhi AI Summit. We discussed what France has to offer: talent, research, and data centres. In two words: Choose France!" he said in a post on X.

"We also reviewed measures to protect young people on social media, in particular the proposal I support to ban access for those under 15. Good news: Meta is committed to moving forward with us," he added.

Earlier in the day, on the India-France bilateral relationship, the French President said the partnership stands at its highest point, with both countries seeking to deepen cooperation across technology, innovation and strategic sectors.

"And as for the bilateral relationship, I really believe it's at the highest point, and we want to do much more again because it's based on our relationship," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in the capital on Thursday, on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

During his address on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron lauded India's digital transformation and its pioneering role in technology governance at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, describing the nation's progress as a global benchmark.

This visit signals sustained momentum in the India-France strategic partnership, with a particular focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) cooperation and emerging technologies.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
It's wonderful to see global leaders appreciating India's digital journey. From UPI to AI governance, we are truly setting benchmarks. Macron's praise feels genuine. Hope this leads to more student exchanges and research collaborations in IITs and French universities.
R
Rohit P
Good discussions, but I hope these partnerships translate into tangible benefits for our local tech talent and SMEs, not just big corporations. Also, the proposal to ban social media for under-15s is interesting... needs careful thought about implementation and digital literacy.
S
Sarah B
As an expat working in Bengaluru's tech sector, this is exciting news. France has strong research in AI. Collaborations like this can make India a true global hub for ethical AI development. The "Choose France" message is clever, but we should also say "Choose India"!
V
Vikram M
Strategic partnerships are key. Beyond AI, hope the defence and space cooperation with France also gets a boost. The Rafale deal has been a success story. Let's build on that trust for more joint ventures in critical technology areas. Jai Hind!
K
Kavya N
While the summit talk is great, I sincerely hope some of this focus on 'protecting young people' translates into stronger data privacy laws here. Our children are online more than ever. We need robust Indian solutions, not just adopting foreign proposals.

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