PM Narendra Modi meets former French president Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris

Paris: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a three-nation tour of France, Germany and Canada, on late Saturday night meet former French president Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris.

PM Modi took to microblogging website Twitter to confirm the meeting by posting a picture of him shaking hands with Sarkozy.  

Met the former President of France, Mr. @NicolasSarkozy. pic.twitter.com/oFWZGR1Z3n — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 11, 2015

PM Modi had earlier made a strong pitch for a permanent seat for India in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

"India is known as the land of sacrifice and devotion. This country, which sacrifices so much for peace, is struggling to find a single seat in the United Nations Security Council. This is the opportunity to give the land of peace its right," he said at a community reception here.

In France, the Prime Minister, earlier in the day, visited the World War-I memorial, near the northern French town of Lille, and offered his tributes to about 10,000 Indians who lost their lives while fighting alongside France.

Arriving at the venue in windy and rainy weather, the Prime Minister was first presented a guard of honour before being escorted to the memorial where he laid a wreath at its base. The memorial commemorates the memory of some 4742 Indian soldiers who died fighting for the British Army during the First World War (1914-18).

Earlier in the day, on the second day of his visit to France, Modi, accompanied by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, visited the Airbus A380 Assembly Line Facility in Toulouse.

As the PM visited the Airbus facility, the aircraft manufacturer expressed support to 'Make in India' initiative and said it is ready to manufacture in India.

Yesterday, Modi held talks with President Francois Hollande and both sides inked 17 agreements and three letters of intent. India also said it is buying 36 Rafale fighter jets in fly away condition as soon as possible.

Earlier, Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome in the morning, after which he attended two back-to-back meetings with CEOs where `Make in India` was the focus.

He also visited the UNESCO headquarters in Paris where he spoke of the Indian government's commitment to ensure that every citizen, faith, culture and creed has an equal place in society.

(With Agency inputs)