Hollande meets PM Modi at Hyderabad House

French President Francois Hollande is all set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Monday.

He arrived in India for a three-day visit on Sunday. Mr.Hollande will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade on Tuesday.

Having tackled business-to-business issues at their meeting in Chandigarh on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande are likely to focus on inter-governmental issues on Monday.

These include the completion of the agreement for the purchase of Rafale aircraft.

Modi-Hollande bilateral talks: Key issues

-Upgrade of strategic partnership established in 1998
-Talks on counter-terror cooperation and Homeland security dialogue.
-Completion of Inter Governmental Agreement for purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts.
-Nuclear issues over current Jaitapur plant, discussions on more nuclear plants.
-Space cooperation, including launch of satellite for climate change research.
-Renewable energy MoU and global solar alliance.

Live updates:

2:08 pm: Indian and French journalists wait at Hyderabad House as Hollande-Modi meeting stretches on.

1.25 pm: Earlier this morning, the French President also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi by placing a wreath at the memorial of the Father of the Nation at Rajghat.

1.15 pm: "The economic presence of France in India goes back a long way. France is the third biggest foreign investor in India," says Mr. Sapin. (ANI)

1.10 pm: Want to encourage Indian Government to continue the reform movement it has launched, says Mr. Sapin. (ANI)

1.00 pm: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley meets the French delegation under the French Minister of Finance Michel Sapin.

12.45 pm: French sources say a series of agreements are to be announced at the Modi-Hollande press conference.

12.30 pm: Both heads of state are scheduled to sign a slew documents relating to several areas of cooperation between the two countries.

12.15 pm: Mr. Modi holds delegation level talks with Mr. Hollande. "Expanding the strategic partnership with France," says MEA Spokesperson, Vikas Swarup.

12.00 pm: Mr. Hollande meets PM Modi at Hyderabad House.

11.55 am: He also inspected the guard of honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

11.50 am: "I'd like once more to thank India for its welcome" said Mr. Hollande after being greeted by President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

11.40 am: Mr Hollande said that the two countries are going to “follow up” on all decisions on the climate change front as well as areas of economic cooperation. Read full story here.

11.30 am: Earlier in the day, President Hollande received a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.