Also declares that six Indo-French EPR plants will be set up in the next phase of cooperation.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy today began his four-day visit to India, outlining the future areas of collaboration between the two countries.
In his second visit to India and first to Bangalore, Sarkozy said nuclear energy, science and technology, and protection of the environment would be the focus of Indo-French collaboration in the 21st century.
He also reiterated France's support for India to gain a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), saying India's election to the Security Council for two years "must serve as the prelude to a permanent Indian presence within the UNSC".
The French president said at a time when India was working to ensure energy security by expanding its nuclear energy production from 4,000 megawatts (Mw) to 62,000 Mw in the next 20 years, this would lead to a greater cooperation between the two countries in the years to come.
"Nuclear energy will now be the focus of our cooperation. We all know how critical it is for India to ensure its energy security," Sarkozy said.
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Addressing a gathering of about 500 audience, comprising top scientists, captains of industry and students, at the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) Satellite Centre here, Sarkozy said France was the first country to say in 1998 that it was time to put an end to India's nuclear isolation, as it was absurd to prevent such a country from developing its civilian nuclear sector.
"The decision to rely on nuclear energy has turned out to be visionary, as it ensures energy independence and provides us with energy that does not emit greenhouse gases."
France produces about 62,000 Mw nuclear energy a year, which caters to almost 80 per cent of its energy requirements. Sarkozy said France had decided to build two European Pressurised Reactors (EPR) power plants, which had been supported by India, other than China and Finland.
Supporting India's candidacy to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Sarkozy said it made sense for the country to participate in the work of multilateral bodies responsible for drafting and ensuring compliance with the non-proliferation regime.
Noting that the agreement signed in Paris on September 30, 2008, became a reality a decade after France initiated the move to end India's nuclear isolation, Sarkozy said his country was starting research, training and plant safety programmes for Indian scientists and engineers.
"For instance, by participating in the construction of the Jaitapur plant (in Maharasthra), French firm Areva is becoming a key partner in India's nuclear energy sector," Sarkozy said.
Sarkozy also declared that in the next phase of cooperation, six Indo-French EPR plants would provide 10,000 Mw non-polluting energy to the economy to the maximum benefit of manufacturing facilities.
The French president also paid tributes to the success of Isro, which is jointly developing Megha-Tropiques and Saral satellites with its French counterpart CNES.