PM Modi to be guest of honour at France’s National Day celebrations on July 14

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modii will be the Guest of Honour at France’s National Day celebrations on July 14, 2023.

France celebrates July 14 as its "Independence Day".

"The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, has accepted the invitation of the President of the French Republic, Mr Emmanuel Macron, to be the Guest of Honour at France’s National Day celebrations on 14th July 2023," said a communication from French government.

Also called Bastille Day, July 14 is France’s National Day. It is a day on which the French people celebrate the values of “liberty, equality, fraternity”.

French president Macron in a tweet said he would be delighted to welcome PM Modi.

Cher Narendra, heureux de t'accueillir à Paris comme invité d'honneur du défilé du 14 juillet !



प्रिय नरेंद्र, 14 जुलाई की परेड के सम्मानित अतिथिके रूप में तुम्हारा पेरिस में स्वागत कर के मुझे बहुतखुशी होगी। pic.twitter.com/XTJi4MiE0E

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 5, 2023

The celebrations are marked by a military parade on Paris’ most iconic avenue, the Champs-Elysées.

This is the second time that a prime minister of India will be the Guest of Honour for July 14, after Manmohan Singh in 2009.

"Prime Minister Modi’s visit this year bears special significance since France and India are celebrating the 25th anniversary of our strategic partnership, launched in 1998," France said.

A contingent of troops from the Indian armed forces will march down the Champs-Elysées with French troops, reflecting the solidarity, trust, and exceptionally close ties between our two countries.