Paris, Aug 23 (UNI) France and India intend to make digital technology a transformative factor in their societies, to foster economic growth, sustainable development and secure enhanced internet access which is essential to bridge digital divide, a Joint statement said here.
France and India thus advocate a vision of digital technologies that empowers citizens, reduces inequalities, and promotes sustainable development, it said adding both the countries also affirm their commitment to an open, reliable, secure, stable and peaceful cyberspace.
At the end of crucial bilateral talks, both sides inked pacts including on administrative arrangement between the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India and the Ministry of National Education and Youth, Government of the French for Cooperation in Skill Development and Vocational Training.
There was also a Memorandum of Agreement between National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India and The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA).
Both sides also inked pacts between Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), an autonomous scientific society of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and ATOS and also one implementing pact between ISRO and CNES France for Joint Maritime Domain Awareness.
With regard digital push, the statement said International law, and in particular the Charter of the United Nations, is applicable and is essential to maintaining peace and stability and promoting an open, secure, peaceful and accessible Digital environment.
They reaffirm the importance of promoting, and implementing voluntary norms of responsible State behaviour in cyberspace as well as confidence and capacity-building measures developed within the framework of the United Nations.
France and India recognise the shared responsibility of a wide variety of actors, in their respective roles, to improve trust, security and stability in cyberspace. They call for the strengthening of the multi-stakeholder approach to ensure an open, secure, stable, accessible and peaceful Digital environment, and stress that this requires joint efforts by governments, industry, academia, and civil society.
France and India intend to work for the promotion of an inclusive and transparent, open Digital environment by preserving a multi-stakeholder and multilateral approach to the Internet that respects the interests of all stakeholders including States.
France and India recognise the importance of the pursuit and the deepening of the cyber dialogue whose third edition was held in Paris on June 20th, 2019, and welcomed the joint statement adopted at its end.
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