Mumbai, Feb. 17 -- With India and France elevating their ties to a 'Special Global Strategic Partnership' amid deepening collaboration across sectors, French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday said that France "is the only clear answer" to India's need for innovation collaborations.

Speaking at the India-France Innovation Forum in Mumbai, Macron said, "The question is no longer whether India innovates. The question is, who will innovate with India? And France is the only clear answer. We are here. We want to be here with you. And we are not leaving."

He hailed the India-France ties, saying the iconic movie dialogue "Jai Ho".

"'Jai ho', as we say in the famous movie. So long live the Indo-French relationship," he added.

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