New Delhi: The historic partnership between India and France has entered a new chapter as Prime Minister Narendra Modi joins French President Emmanuel Macron to co-chair the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris on February 11, 2025. This collaboration, rooted in shared democratic values and strategic autonomy, marks a significant evolution in bilateral relations that have flourished since President Jacques Chirac's visionary proposal of "a partnership for the 21st century" in 1998.
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A Strategic Partnership for the Digital Age
France's decision to invite India as co-chair of the AI Summit reflects the growing recognition of New Delhi's emerging role in shaping global technology governance. This choice is particularly significant given China's dominant position in AI technology, highlighting France's preference for partnering with nations that share common democratic values and approaches to technological development.
The Summit's significance is amplified by the attendance of global leaders, including US Vice President J D Vance, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. This gathering provides India with a crucial platform to advocate for inclusive and responsible AI development while addressing critical issues of ethics, governance, and accessibility.
Five Pillars of the Paris Summit
The Summit focuses on five key themes:
Public Interest AI
Future of Work
Innovation and Culture
Trust in AI
Global AI Governance
Building on previous summits in the UK (November 2023) and South Korea (May 2024), the Paris meeting aims to establish concrete initiatives benefiting the Global South. The Bletchley Park Declaration and Seoul Declaration laid the groundwork for international cooperation on AI safety and development, including the proposed network of AI Safety Institutes.
India's Three-Pronged Approach to Global AI Cooperation
GPAI Leadership As the 2024 lead chair of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), India is working to establish GPAI as the central platform for international AI cooperation. This OECD-supported initiative guides responsible AI development and implementation globally.
Democratizing AI Access India champions inclusive AI governance, focusing on bridging the technological divide between nations. The country's approach emphasizes making AI benefits accessible to all countries, regardless of their development status.
Global South Advocacy India brings crucial perspective to AI discussions by highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities faced by developing nations, ensuring their voices are heard in global AI governance frameworks.
IndiaAI Mission: A Model for Inclusive Development
During the Summit, India will showcase its ambitious Rs 10,371 crore IndiaAI Mission, which embodies the dual objective of "Making AI in India and Making AI for India." This comprehensive program demonstrates how nations can develop AI capabilities while ensuring equitable distribution of benefits across society.
The Evolution of India-France Relations
The relationship between India and France has deepened significantly since their first strategic partnership. Key milestones include:
Launch of the International Solar Alliance (2015)
Co-chairmanship of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
Regular high-level exchanges, including three meetings between Modi and Macron in 2024
President Macron's attendance as Chief Guest at India's 2025 Republic Day celebrations
The Paris AI Summit represents a crucial step in establishing global governance frameworks for AI technology. India's co-chairmanship reflects its growing influence in shaping international technology policy and its commitment to ensuring AI development serves the global community.
As President Macron noted in his memoir "Revolution," France's global role remains central to its identity. By partnering with India on this crucial initiative, France reinforces its position as a key player in technological governance while acknowledging India's rising importance in the digital age.
Active Indian Engagement
India's participation extends beyond symbolic representation. The country is actively involved in:
Co-chairing the AI Governance Working Group
Participating in various working group deliberations
Serving on the Summit's Steering Committee
Contributing to the Leaders' Statement negotiations
Participating in the GPAI Ministerial Meeting
