Climate change, terrorism biggest threats to humanity: PM Modi at Elysee Palace in Paris

Paris: Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Saturday urged nations to do more to fight the twin challenges of terrorism and climate change facing the world and said these are the two biggest threats to humanity.

“Terrorism is one of the two bigger challenges facing the world today. And nations must resolve in one voice to root out the menace,” Modi said during a joint presser with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace here.

Modi said India and France enjoy deep-rooted ties and the two nations have been working together for a very long time, bilaterally and multilaterally.

Lauding France's efforts to fight climate change, the prime minister said that “France is committed to fighting climate change and will continue, not only within the framework of Paris accord, but also in actions we are implementing.”

He also appreciated the 'positivity' shown by the French president towards the International Solar Alliance in efforts to minimise the use of fossil fuels.

Earlier, the PM held wide-ranging discussions with the newly-elected French President covering issues of international and mutual interests, including ways to enhance the strategic ties, countering terrorism and climate change.

"Be it trade and technology, innovation and investment, energy, education and enterprise, we want to give a boost to India-France ties," the PM said.

He also expressed interest in improving the cultural relations between India and France.

Modi said several Indians fought in the first two world wars for world peace.

He invited the French president to visit India and he duly accepted it.

He said he will be travelling to India by end of the year and the two sides will convene a meeting of the world solar alliance.

39-year-old Macron created history last month by becoming the youngest president of France. Modi had congratulated Macron on his poll victory and had said he looked forward to work with him to further deepen the bilateral ties.

Addressing the media, the French President said, that he will work with India on defence cooperation, maritime security and intelligence sharing. He said, “France fully supports India's fight against terrorism.

“Many Indian soldiers who died for our country, for it's freedom, it's very much evidence of strong bonds between our countries,” the French president said.

Macron said that the issues of tackling terrorism was discussed at length during his talks with PM Modi and France fully supports India's fight against terrorism.

The two countries agreed to fight terrorism in all its forms, he added.

PM Modi arrived in France from Russia, where he held talks with President Vladimir Putin and attended an international economic forum.

Before Russia, Modi also visited Germany and Spain and held talks with the top leadership there.

France is India's 9th largest investment partner. France is also a key partner in India's development initiatives in areas like defence, space, nuclear and renewable energy, urban development and railways.

Both sides also pledged to a successful implementation of the Paris accord on climate change.

"India and France jointly gave birth to this idea of Paris accord. We moved shoulder to shoulder and worked on the agreement which is a shared legacy of the world.

“It will benefit the future generations and give them a new hope," Modi said.

"It is not just a question of protection of environment but it is the responsibility of all of us to save Mother Earth as protection of environment is an article of faith for us for centuries.

“What we got from our ancestors it becomes our responsibility to give pure water and pure air to the coming generations and the future world," he said.