New Delhi: India and France signed agreements to cooperate in nuclear energy and defence. The two sides condemned terrorism and agree to share information and intelligence in combating it.
India and France on Monday signed nine agreements, including a declaration on nuclear energy and a pact on defence cooperation, after talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and French President Jacques Chirac.
Chirac renewed his support for a permanent seat for India in the UNSC. The French President and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh agreed to enhance their strategic partnership.
The Declaration on the Development of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes was signed by Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar and French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste Blazy in presence of Singh and Chirac.
Chirac arrived in New Delhi on Sunday on his three-day visit.
Jacques Chirac was accorded a formal reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
"We wish to strengthen long standing ties between India and France. We have much in common. We are committed to democracy, to secularism and to the principles enshrined in the UN Charter," said Chirac.
"You can never be too sure, we could hit a stumbling block," Chirac cautioned during an informal meeting with 30 French business leaders accompanying him on his two-day visit.
Before arriving in India, the President had said that "more work is required on both sides" before a nuclear cooperation agreement, which India is seeking to boost nuclear technology transfers, can be struck.
An MoU will also be signed between BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) and Ministry of Power and AEDEME (Agence de l'Environment et de la Maitrise de L'Energie) is also expected to be signed.
A formal agreement to acquire 43 aircraft from Airbus Industrie for Indian Airlines is also likely to be signed.
The two countries have a strategic partnership that was initiated during Chirac's last visit.
This is President Chirac's second visit to India. He was last in India in 1998. Talks are scheduled for later this day followed by signing of agreements.
(With Agency inputs)
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