Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri today said that India and France are celebrating 25 years of strategic partnership and this is built on the strong grounds of liberty, democracy and reinforcement.

Addressing a press conference at Party Headquarters in New Delhi, Mr Puri said, in the future, India and France will extend their groundbreaking defence cooperation to advance aeronautical technologies by supporting the joint development of a combat aircraft engine.

The Union Minister said, Mr Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to be bestowed the highest French award, the Grand Cross of the Legion Honour.