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French President Sarkozy arrives in India;
N-coop, defence pact on agenda
New Delhi, January 25, 2008
Talks on nuclear cooperation and a multi-billion dollar
defence agreement will be the highlight of visit of French
President Nicholas Sarkozy, who arrives on Friday to give
"fresh impetus" to the strategic ties with India.
The French President, who will be the 'Guest of Honour' at the
Republic Day celebrations, was received by Minister of State
for External Affairs Anand Sharma at Palam airport.
He is accompanied by a high-level delegation of six ministers
and about 60 top executives of French companies.
The two sides will also discuss ways to enhance trade and
business ties during Sarkozy's two-day maiden visit to New
Delhi, which is marked by the suspense over whether the
President's girlfriend and former supermodel Carla Bruni would
be accompanying him.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sarkozy will hold talks on a
wide range of issues covering bilateral, regional and
international issues of mutual interest.
After the talks, the two sides will issue a joint statement
spelling out a "strategic roadmap" for future cooperation
between the two countries, External Affairs Ministry spokesman
Navtej Sarna said.
A framework agreement for civil nuclear cooperation is
expected to be unveiled, making clear France's willingness to
sign it whenever India is ready with safeguards pact with IAEA
and Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) exemptions.
The two sides will also sign a 1.5 billion euro pact under
which France will upgrade India's ageing 52 Mirage-2000
fighter aircraft to the Mirage-2009 levels.
The two sides will also outline plans to enhance the business
ties and set ambitious trade targets. Bilateral trade has more
than doubled in the last three years and currently stands at
6.23 billion dollars.
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