A total of 14 agreements were signed between India and France in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in New Delhi on Saturday. The pacts cover strategic areas such as defence and nuclear energy as well as people to people ties such as in the education sector.

One of the key agreements is a reciprocal logistics support deal between the respective armed forces of India and France. Described as a “golden step” by PM Modi in his joint statement with Macron, the deal will facilitate the French and Indian armed forces to receive logistical support, supplies and services from each other during authorised port visits, joint exercises, joint training, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.

Other strategic deals include an agreement on the Prevention of Illicit Consumption and Reduction of Illicit Traffic in narcotics. The agreement will have a direct bearing on terror financing which is largely dependent on narcotics and illicit drug trade.

Both India and France agreed on common security regulations applicable to any exchange of classified and protected information.

An agreement between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd and EDF, France, was signed to prescribe a way forward for the implementation of the 9900 MW Jaitapur nuclear power project at Madban village of Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra.

Agreements in the field of education, environment, urban development and railways were also signed in the presence of the two leaders.

Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement and facilitation of Mutual Recognition of Academic Qualifications were the two pacts inked to strengthen the ties between the two nations in the education arena.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Central National D’EtudesSpatiales (CNES) signed an Implementing Arrangement which will enable the two countries to provide end-to-end solution for detection, identification and monitoring of vessels in their respective regions of interest, which in India’s case is the strategically important Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Addressing a joint media event with Macron, Modi said the two countries have robust cooperation in the fields of defence and security.

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On his part, Macron said India and France have decided to work together to deal with threats of terrorism and radicalisation. Both the leaders also talked about cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

Macron is in India on a four-day visit. He was received at the airport last night by PM Modi, in a special gesture.