French President Emmanuel Macron invites PM Modi to attend G7 Summit as a 'special invitee'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accepted an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron to attend the outreach session of the G7 Summit in Biarritz as a special invitee, said a senior official on Monday.

The 45th summit of the G7 group of countries will take place from August 24 to August 26 in Biarritz in France.

"The prime minister has received an invitation from the President of France Emmanuel Macron to attend the outreach session at the G-7 Summit in Biarritz as a special invitee," said Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.

He was responding to queries relating to comments of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne regarding the invitation extended to India.

"The invitation is a reflection of the personal chemistry between the two leaders, a demonstration of our deepening strategic partnership and recognition of India as a major economic power. PM has accepted the invitation to attend the event which will also include a bilateral component, Mr Kumar added.

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Meanwhile, China on Monday, June 10 hoped that President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would discuss their respective trade frictions with the US and the two "good friends" could reach a consensus on opposing "trade protectionism" during their very important meeting during the SCO summit in Bishkek this week.

This year's summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will be held in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek on June 13-14 where Modi and Xi are scheduled to meet and discuss bilateral and international issues.

The meeting assumes significance as this is the first meeting between the two leaders after Modi-led BJP's massive victory in the recent elections in India. Xi had congratulated Modi on his re-election through a letter on May 23.