PM Modi conferred with France's highest honour

Digital Desk: On Thursday (local time), Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour from French President Emmanuel Macron in a momentous ceremony.

In military or civilian orders, it is France's highest distinction. PM Modi is now the first Indian PM to get this honour as an outcome.

For the people of India, PM Modi thanked French President Macron for the honours. At the Elysee Palace, where PM Modi was received by Macron for a private supper, the award ceremony was held.

"The highest honour conferred by France was given to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on July 13, 2023, by H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of France. On behalf of the Indian people, the Prime Minister congratulated President Macron for this exceptional award," according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs.

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Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a tweet stated, "A warm gesture embodying the spirit of India-France partnership. PM @narendramodi conferred with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, the highest award in France by President @EmmanuelMacron."

The Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour has previously been awarded to a small number of world-famous figures and notable leaders. Among them are former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, former United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former South African President Nelson Mandela, King Charles, the then Prince of Wales, and others.

The honour from France is the most recent in a string of prestigious accolades and awards that PM Modi has received from other nations.

These include Order of the Nile by Egypt in June 2023, Companion of the Order of Logohu by Papua New Guinea in May 2023, Companion of the Order of Fiji in May 2023, Ebakl Award by the Republic of Palau in May 2023, Order of the Druk Gyalpo by Bhutan in 2021, Legion of Merit by the US Government in 2020, King Hamad Order of the Renaissance by Bahrain in 2019, Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddin by Maldives in 2019, Order of St. Andrew award by Russia in 2019, Order of Zayed Award by UAE in 2019, Grand Collar of the State of Palestine Award in 2018, State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan by Afghanistan in 2016 and Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud by Saudia Arabia in 2016.

At an earlier time on Thursday (local time), French President Emmanuel Macron received PM Narendra Modi for a private dinner at his official residence, the Elysee Palace in Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron welcomed PM Modi.

The Prime Minister received a formal welcome at the airport when he landed in Paris on Thursday for a two-day official visit. Elisabeth Borne, the prime minister of France, greeted him at the airport.