Vice President of India undertakes State visit to France
Vice President Naidu attended the Paris Peace Forum held to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice of First World War, and unveiled the Indian Armed Forces Memorial.
Paris, 9-11 November 2018
The Vice-President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of France, visited Paris from 9 to 11 November 2018, to represent the Government of India in the activities commemorating the centenary of the Armistice of World War I.
India was one of the largest contributors of soldiers during World War I. India’s participation at the Armistice Centenary ceremony was a befitting tribute to the sacrifices made by these soldiers, underlining India’s historical contribution to global peace and security.
The Heads of State and Government of 84 countries and their representatives participated in the centenary activities. On 11 November, the Vice President attended the ceremony to commemorate the armistice of World War I at Arc de Triomphe, presided over by President Emmanuel Macron.
As part of the Armistice Centenary, the French Government also hosted the Paris Peace Forum, which took place in Paris from 11 to 13 November 2018.
The aim of the Paris Peace Forum is to establish a global platform to reaffirm the importance of multilateralism, international cooperation and reform of global governance institutions. The Forum provides a platform for discussion and debate with special emphasis on civil society initiatives and shares experiences and innovative solutions involving all the stakeholders in governance.
The Forum is envisioned as a recurring, annual event to promote governance solutions in five key areas: Peace and Security, Environment, Development, New Technologies, and Inclusive Economy. The Vice-President spoke at the high-level panel discussion titled, "Dialogue of the Continents on Global Governance”.
The Vice-President also addressed the Indian community on 9 November 2018 and inaugurated the Indian War Memorial at Villers Guislain on 10 November 2018. India constructed this war memorial at Villers Guislain, a town around 200 km from Paris, to highlight the contribution of the soldiers of undivided India to the freedom of France in World War I.
Later, the Vice President participated in a Reception at ‘The Mairie Hall’ behind Mayor’s Office. Shri Naidu also visited the exhibition organized to showcase the role of Indian Armed Forces during World War I at the Memorial.Retour ligne automatique
He also held a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Paris Peace Forum.