Modi meets French foreign minister, conveys expectation about positive outcome at climate summit

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and said he hoped for an equitable and positive outcome at the UN climate change summit in Paris later this month.

Modi also conveyed his deepest condolences at the loss of innocent lives in the terror attacks in Paris last week.

"The prime minister strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Paris and conveyed his deepest condolences at the loss of innocent lives in the attacks," a release from the Prime Minister's Office said.

As many as 129 people were killed and 350 others injured in the terror attacks in Paris on November 13.

During the meeting, Modi re-affirmed "the importance that India attached to a strategic partnership with France".

He said the UN climate change summit should also provide for enhanced technological, financial and capacity-building support to developing and small countries to enable them to take even more ambitious action to save the climate.

The Prime Minister expressed the hope for a positive outcome from the forthcoming COP 21 summit that was equitable, balanced and guided by the principles and provisions of the UNFCC (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change), especially the principle of common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities,

Modi said he looked forward to the launch of the International Solar Alliance along with French President Francois Hollande and other leaders during the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

The release said Fabius appreciated the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) declared by India and said it would play an important role in the success of the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21 Summit).

(Inputs from IANS)