India-France to work on 'Trilateral Development Cooperation'

New Delhi: India and France have decided to work on trilateral development cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced. A few months ago, India announced the ‘Trilateral Development Cooperation’ (TDC) fund. The plan is seen as India’s answer to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and to reducing China’s influence in the sector. Through this, India will work under various cooperation schemes with other countries in the Indo-Pacific region. This trilateral cooperation with France will be taken forward, staying within the ‘International Solar Alliance’ (ISA) framework.

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna is on a visit to India, and Wednesday, she met and had a bilateral discussion with Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar. On this occasion, there were discussions on the Ukraine conflict to various global issues. It was reported that multilateral cooperation, regional connectivity, maritime security, tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, and Afghanistan were also discussed.

India and France have a solid strategic partnership. French Foreign Minister Colonna said that this cooperation between the two countries is to bring peace and stability to the world. Foreign Minister Colonna noted that India and France have been working together in the field of defence and security and global issues. Besides, she said she would meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron soon.

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar announced in a joint press conference that India and France have shown readiness to work on Indo-Pacific ‘Trilateral Development Cooperation’. Under this, various development projects will be worked on in this sector. Mr Jaishankar highlighted that this trilateral cooperation with France would be taken forward, staying within the ‘International Solar Alliance’ (ISA) framework.

Currently, projects are being set up in three countries by ISA. Mr Jaishankar said these projects would be set up in Bhutan, Papua, New Guinea and Senegal. Moreover, the Foreign Minister drew attention to the fact that a platform will be provided to Indian innovators and startups under this trilateral cooperation.

France is a prominent power globally, and it has an independent policy. Mr Jaishankar said that France is the centre of the emergence of multi-polarity and is the country responsive to India’s concerns.

Meanwhile, India and China have withdrawn their troops from Patrolling Point 15 (PP15) in Ladakh. However, this retreat is only for this Point. ‘I do not think I will say anything new today except I would recognise that we have had disengagement at PP-15 (Patrolling Point 15). The disengagement, as I understand, was completed. That is one problem less on the border,’ said External Affairs Minister Jaishankar. Although China has retreated at one Point, the Indo-China issue has not been resolved. This statement of Mr Jaishankar shows he has underlined that the issues between the two countries will not be resolved until the border disputes are resolved.