NEW DELHI -- India and France yesterday decided to sign nine key agreements that extraordinarily includes a declaration on strategic bilateral civilian and defence nuclear cooperation. This formal signing of declaration even before New Delhi and Washington sort out their differences over their nuclear deal has paved way for a joint defence convention between India and France days before United States President George Bush arrives. Both India and France are also working on a joint agreement on space science technology. The visiting French President Jacques Chirac stressed France's cooperation with India in this sector stating that the bilateral ties with India was set to prosper. French President met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh here before the two sides penned a series of agreements on nuclear energy cooperation and defence contracts. While 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, the agreement on defence cooperation was signed by French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie and her Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee. The deals were signed in the presence of the Dr Singh and President Chirac. The joint statement later released stated that the agreement was an important element of the strategic partnership between the two nations and was aimed at building upon and expanding cooperation in defence and military fields.
This formal signing of declaration even before New Delhi and Washington sort out their differences over their nuclear deal has paved way for a joint defence convention between India and France days before United States President George Bush arrives. Both India and France are also working on a joint agreement on space science technology.
The visiting French President Jacques Chirac stressed France's cooperation with India in this sector stating that the bilateral ties with India was set to prosper. French President met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh here before the two sides penned a series of agreements on nuclear energy cooperation and defence contracts.
While 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, the agreement on defence cooperation was signed by French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie and her Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee.
The deals were signed in the presence of the Dr Singh and President Chirac. The joint statement later released stated that the agreement was an important element of the strategic partnership between the two nations and was aimed at building upon and expanding cooperation in defence and military fields.
:-) *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Of course, you still have the big commercial rivalries in airplanes and nuclear energy, but that trip is not about being "alternative to America" (not this time, anyway) In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
