India, France agree to sign nuclear deal

Trade target set at euro 12 billion by 2012.

France and India today moved towards a deal on civilian nuclear cooperation along the lines of the Indo-US nuclear pact.

This was decided at a summit meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that was aimed at boosting bilateral relations in the backdrop of New Delhi's rising economic clout.

Both sides agreed that a civilian nuclear deal could be finalised.once India's talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on safeguards for the Indo-US deal were over.

Addressing the media after his talks with Singh at Hyderabad House, Sarkozy said France would support India at the Nuclear Suppliers' Group, (NSG), the 45-member club that controls supply of nuclear fuel. New Delhi has to approach the NSG for going ahead with the nuclear deal with the US.

"France will be India's advocate with the international community for acquiring civilian nuclear energy...India is considered a responsible nuclear power which is sticking to the IAEA guidelines. So France will be the advocate," Sarkozy said.

He reiterated French support for India's bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. The two sides also decided to push their defence ties "beyond buyer-seller relationship" and set a bilateral trade target of euro 12 billion by 2012.

The two leaders also decided to set up a joint working group on environment to enable their countries to jointly pursue clear development mechanisms (CDMs) through technology transfer for low carbon emissions.

Significantly, the declaration linked the negotiations on the civil nuclear cooperation to the urgent need to address the problem of global warming. This means France supports India's attempts to acquire nuclear fuel on environmental grounds too.

"We will increasingly focus on joint research and development projects, transfer of technology and greater military exchanges," Singh said.

"The initiatives we have take reflect our mutual strength and growing potential of our two countries to contribute to each others' development and national priorities," he said.

During the delegation-level talks, the French proposed sale of Mirage fighter planes to the Indian Air Force. Singh said the two sides agreed to intensify business-to-business contacts and establish an Indian Cultural Centre in Paris.

Sarkozy also offered to facilitate travel of more Indian students to France for higher studies.

Speaking at a function organised by the CII, the Ficci and the Department of Industrial Production, Sarkozy called for inclusion of India into the G-8 as early as July, 2008.

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