PM Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron also discussed the forthcoming COP26

India and France have reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate in the Indo-Pacific and to find new and innovative ways to contribute towards a free, open and rules-based order in the region.

The issue was discussed in a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rome, Italy on Friday.

"The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the state of the wide-ranging India-France Strategic Partnership," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

"Delighted to meet my friend, President @EmmanuelMacron in Rome. Our talks revolved around enhancing cooperation in diverse areas and boosting people-to-people relations," PM Modi said on Twitter.

Prime Minister Modi also welcomed the European Union’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, released in September 2021, and thanked the French President for France’s leadership role in the same.

According to the MEA, the two leaders discussed the forthcoming COP26 and the need to focus on issues of climate finance.

Prime Minister Modi also invited President Macron to visit India at the earliest opportunity.