Paris (AFP)

Emmanuel Macron will have a heavy diplomatic day Thursday, just hours from the G7 summit, receiving the new British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the new head of the Greek government Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said the French Presidency Monday .

The head of state will receive Mr. Johnson at the presidential palace for a working lunch, preceded by a statement to the press.

"It is a matter of raising the issue of Brexit, in accordance with the European principles agreed at 27, but also the bilateral relationship and all international issues that involve our two countries and require close cooperation (G7, Iran, Syria ...), "said the Elysee.

Boris Johnson's government is determined to leave the EU on October 31, whether or not it has succeeded in renegotiating the agreement with the EU. At the end of July, Brussels had rejected its request to renegotiate a new Brexit agreement.

Before his meeting with Mr Macron, the British Prime Minister met German Chancellor Angela Merkel the day before in Berlin.

Then at the G7 Biarritz next weekend, he will meet with US President Donald Trump, with whom he hopes to conclude an ambitious free trade agreement after Brexit.

The French president will also receive Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, invited to the G7 although his country is not part of it, and while the tension is very strong between India and Pakistan, two nuclear powers on the question of Kashmir Delhi has revoked constitutional autonomy for the party it controls.

According to the Indian agency PTI, the meeting will strengthen ties in the defense sector, nuclear energy, maritime cooperation and counter-terrorism.

Earlier in the afternoon, Emmanuel Macron will also meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis "to discuss all the European issues, bilateral and related to the Eastern Mediterranean region".

"France has always been alongside Greece during the crisis, as if to support growth and investment from now on. (...) It is essential for the EU and the region to strengthen this political, economic and social partnership. and strategic ".

The visit of Mr. Mitsotakis will be his "first bilateral visit (...) after the traditional trip to Cyprus," said the Elysee.

© 2019 AFP