Forces Of Disruption, Geopolitical Tension A Threat To Framework Of International Cooperation: CJI

When forces of disruption and geopolitical tension threaten to destabilize the very framework of international cooperation, the France-India partnership is not a luxury, it is a lifeline, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has said.Speaking at the Indo-French Legal and Business Conference in Paris, the CJI said the relationship between the two countries has long transcended the purely diplomatic and is instead a multi-dimensional architecture, encompassing everything from the sanctity of defence and security cooperation to a shared pursuit of sustainable growth and advanced technologies.“We have witnessed a remarkable acceleration in our bilateral trade, which has more than doubled over the last decade, surging from USD 6.4 billion in 2009-10

to an impressive USD 15.11 billion in the last fiscal year,” said the Chief Justice.

Speaking on the topic of “Cross-Border Dispute Resolution: Courts, Arbitration and India-France Year of Innovation 2026,” Justice Kant said, “The relationship between France and India is not a creation of convenience, it is a bond forged over centuries. Today, standing on the shoulders of this history, we face a world transformed by uncertainty. The forces of disruption and geopolitical tension threaten to destabilise the very framework of international cooperation. In such a world, the France-India partnership is not a luxury; it is a lifeline.”He added that united by the shared belief in democracy, the rule of law and the pursuit of a peaceful and just global order, both countries possess complementary strengths.Said the CJI, “I invite you to join me in a brief exercise of reflection: If we were to pause and look across the vast geographical distance that separates our two Republics, could we name the commonalities that bridge the gap between the Ganges and the Seine? The Ganges, sacred to millions, flows from the icy peaks of the Himalayas, nourishing the plains of India with life, faith and culture. The Seine, meandering elegantly through France, cradles the heart of Paris, inspiring artists, philosophers and dreamers for centuries. One may appear as a spiritual pilgrimage in motion, the other as a poetic lifeline of art and romance. Yet beneath these apparent differences lies a harmony of purpose. Both rivers are storytellers.”“Along their banks, civilisations have blossomed — kingdoms have risen, markets have thrived and communities have found their rhythm. Each river mirrors the aspirations of its people, becoming not only a source of sustenance but also a vessel of identity. France and India are heirs to civilisations that have contributed immeasurably to art, philosophy and the human spirit. From the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity that inspired India’s own freedom struggle to the intellectual and artistic exchanges that continue today, our histories are threads in a single, vivid tapestry. Our cultures, though oceans apart, speak the same language of creativity and resilience,” he said.

“This profound commonality of spirit makes it not only logical, but indeed inevitable, that our two nations should choose this moment to embark upon the Year of Innovation 2026. The relationship between our nations has long transcended the purely diplomatic; it is instead a multidimensional architecture encompassing everything from the sanctity of our defence and security cooperation to our shared pursuit of sustainable growth and advanced technologies. This strategic intimacy is mirrored even in our economic vitality. We have witnessed a remarkable acceleration in our bilateral trade, which has more than doubled over the last decade, surging from 6.4 billion dollars in 2009-10 to an impressive 15.11 billion dollars in the last fiscal year,” said CJI Kant.“Furthermore, the footprint of French enterprise in India is both deep and enduring. France now represents a significant pillar of our foreign investment landscape, contributing over 1.6% of total FDI into India, primarily through qualitative investments in our service sectors and heavy industries, ultimately signalling a vote of confidence in India’s long-term stability and our shared industrial future,” he said.“As we stand at the precipice of the Year of Innovation 2026, we are no longer just building the nest, we are mapping the sky in which we fly,” he said, adding that as India and France enter a new phase of innovation this year, they do so supported by a dispute-resolution architecture that is not reactive, but anticipatory, not adversarial, but principled, and not merely efficient, but enduring.The CJI underlined that a promising avenue lies in the establishment of joint arbitration and mediation panels, comprising professionals trained across civil and common law traditions.“Such panels would bring not only technical excellence but also the cultural and jurisprudential fluency necessary for resolving disputes that traverse legal systems as seamlessly as they traverse markets,” he said.