Modi embarks for UAE from Paris

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday embarked for Abu Dhabi from here after successfully concluding his France tour during which he held bilateral meetings with President Emmanuel Macron and premier Edouard Philippe.

Modi's visit to the UAE capital Abu Dhabi is part of his three-nation tour to France, UAE and Bahrain.

"India-France bilateral relations have gone from strength to strength. After the successful conclusion of the first leg of his 3-country visit, PM @narendramodi embarks for Abu Dhabi," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

During his visit to the UAE, Modi will discuss bilateral, regional and international matters of mutual interest with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and also formally launch RuPay card to expand the network of cashless transactions abroad.

He will also receive the 'Order of Zayed', the highest civilian decoration conferred by the UAE government.

From Abu Dhabi, Modi will visit Bahrain where he will hold talks with King Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and also witness the formal beginning of the re-development of the temple of Shreenathji -- the oldest in the Gulf region before returning to France on Sunday to attend the G7 Summit meetings.

Modi's visit to Bahrain is significant as it will be the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to the country.

He would also meet and interact with the Indian diaspora during the visit.

Earlier in the day in Paris, Modi held talks with his French counterpart Philippe and discussed issues of bilateral and mutual interests to further boost the comprehensive strategic partnership.

He also met UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay and addressed the Indian community at the UNESCO headquarters after inaugurating a memorial at the foothills of the Mont Blanc mountain in the honour of the victims of two Air India crashes in France in 1950s and 1960s in which several Indians, including Homi J Bhabha, regarded as the father of India's nuclear programme, were killed.