Climate change, India's membership into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and tender for e-rickshaws dominated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interactions with world leaders on Monday as he participated in the ongoing G7 Summit in Biarritz, France as a 'summit partner'.

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In a packed day with four bilaterals and two sessions, the PM first met Senegalese President Macky Sall in the afternoon, where they discussed solar powered e-rickshaws, with Sall assuring the PM that the nation will place a substantial tender for the 250 e-rickshaws.

PM Modi then attended a dedicated session on 'Biodiversity, Oceans, Climate', where he underlined India's contribution to address reducing biodiversity, climate change, water stress and ocean pollution.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • In a packed day with four bilaterals and two sessions, the PM first met Senegalese President Macky Sall in the afternoon  
  • They discussed solar powered e-rickshaws, with Sall assuring the PM that the nation will place a substantial tender  
  • It was followed by 3 back-to-back meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Chilean President Sebastián Piñera and an interaction with US President Donald Trump

It was followed by three back-to-back meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Chilean President Sebastián Piñera and his highly-anticipated interaction with US President Donald Trump where he clearly stated India's position on the Kashmir issue and firmly turned down the offer for mediation.

Earlier on Sunday, climate change was also the focus when PM Modi held talks with UK Prime Minister and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Additionally, Guterres also assured Modi that he understood India's position on its bid for NSG and said he was willing to help on the matter, but raised concerns on India's thermal power plants. "The PM referred to UN Secretary-General that nuclear power is an investment-intensive industry and membership to NSG is crucial to build investor confidence," said Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale after the meeting.

In September, the PM will address United Nations General Assembly and will be also be a keynote speaker at the UN Climate Change summit.

Meanwhile, in his sitdown with UK's Boris Johnson on Sunday, economics dominated the agenda as the two nations agreed to set up a team to enhance the economic alliance between India and London, specially in the backdrop of Brexit. "Need to develop partnership..and access to be to given to talented India in UK," Johnson reportedly told PM Modi.

PM Modi has been on a three-nation visit, including France, UAE and Bahrain where he was also honoured with their highest civilian awards.

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