PM to take part in inaugural session of Paris climate summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Paris on November 30 to take part in the inaugural session of the UN climate change summit along with 80 Heads of States where they will aim to achieve a global climate pact.

French Ambassador to India Francois Richier in his tweet said Modi, US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be among the top leaders who will attend the inaugural session of Conference of Parties (CoP21) which concludes on December 11.

“80 Heads of State &Govt present for #COP21 opening, incl US, China Prez & PM Modi to give final impetus to negotiation, said @LaurentFabius,” Richier said while quoting French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.

Though there is no official announcement on the Prime Minister’s visit, sources said Modi, who will have a hectic overseas itinerary in November with two back-to-back visits covering four countries, will leave for Paris after he returns from his Singapore trip scheduled for November 23-24.

This is probably among the very few occasions when heads of states and governments will attend the inaugural session of a CoP.