France willing to cooperate with India on nuclear matters

Visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has said that Paris is willing to carry forward the agreement on nuclear matters withndia.

New Delhi, Dec 24 : Visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has said that Paris is willing to carry forward the agreement on nuclear matters withndia.

"We are working towards agreement on civil nuclear power and my country is ready to work on this agreement. I know that you have to align and to implement all the international laws and international nuclear agency," said Kouchner

Calling for concerted efforts by the two nations, Kouchner said, "I am completely convinced that both India and France absolutely look like each other, a sort of strong and determined strength to find a particular way to democracy and peace."

Kouchner, who arrived in Delhi on Thursday, is expected to chalk out the agenda for the scheduled visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Sarkozy will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade on January 26. The parade besides being a cultural extravaganza showcases the country's military might.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited France in November 2005 and the French President came again to India in February 2006, both reaffirmed their willingness to deepen and expand bilateral cooperation for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

During Manmohan Singh's visit to Paris, France acknowledged the need for full international civilian nuclear co-operation with India and work towards this objective by working with other countries and the NSG and by deepening bilateral co-operation.

France and India also plan to take their trade to 8 billion Euros a year by 2010.

The strategic partners had agreed to double their trade by 2010 during the last visit of Sarkozy's predecessor Jacque Chirac in February 2006.

India's exports to France - at about 2.2 billion Euros - are mainly textiles, farm and marine products, chemicals, metals and gems and jewellery. It imports goods worth 1.8 billion euros, mainly machinery, transport equipment and iron and steel.

ANI