00:00French President Emmanuel Macron begins a three-day visit to India on Tuesday
00:05with discussions focusing on cooperation in artificial intelligence
00:09and a potential multi-billion dollar defence agreement.
00:13Central to the talks is India's plan to purchase up to 114 additional fighter jets
00:19in a deal estimated at US$35 billion.
00:27Most of the aircraft will be manufactured in India.
00:30If finalised, the order will build on the 36 Dassault Rafale jets acquired in 2016
00:36as well as 26 more ordered for the Indian Navy.
00:40During his fourth visit to India since 2017,
00:44Macron is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi
00:46and attend an artificial intelligence summit in New Delhi.
00:51France has emerged as a key defence and economic partner for India
00:55with bilateral trade standing at approximately US$18 billion.
01:00Beyond defence and technology,
01:02the leaders are also expected to address global economic uncertainty
01:06and China's expanding influence in the region.
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