Deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries, India and France today sealed business deals for 16 billion dollars and signed 14 agreements including security pacts that could help counter China's growing influence in the Indian Ocean region. French President Emmanuel Macron, who was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a bear hug at the airport last evening, got down to business right away after a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan. After meetings with Indian leaders, Mr Macron called New Delhi a strategic partner of France in South Asia and "we want to be yours in Europe".
