PARIS, 13 September 2005 — India and France will negotiate a pact to cooperate on nuclear power, officials said yesterday after talks between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and French President Jacques Chirac.
During the meeting, which focused on strengthening the countries’ strategic partnership, Manmohan also confirmed plans to buy six French submarines and 43 Airbus planes.
Chirac called India “a major partner” and said the submarine and plane orders, which had previously been announced by Indian officials, were a sign “of trust, friendship and cooperation.”
The meeting was the first official engagement for 72-year-old Chirac since his release from hospital Friday following a weeklong stay for what doctors said was a blood vessel problem that affected his eyesight. Chirac greeted Manmohan on the front steps of the French presidential Elysee Palace.
In a joint declaration, the two announced their intention to “work toward the conclusion of an agreement on bilateral cooperation in the nuclear field.” The document offered no details.
India wants to reduce its reliance on oil by developing nuclear energy. It hopes to import French nuclear reactors, Manmohan said in an interview published yesterday in Le Figaro newspaper.
“There is a clear commitment by France to fully cooperate with India in this field in all aspects of nuclear energy cooperation,” Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran told reporters later.
During a July visit to Washington, Manmohan and US President George W. Bush announced a plan for the United States to share civilian nuclear technology with India, which has been long cut off from most nuclear trade because of its history of nuclear tests and its refusal to sign the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The deal still requires congressional approval.
“I think that whether it was with the US or with the French, the general sense is that the sooner we move in this direction, the better it is,” Saran said.
Chirac’s talks with Manmohan focused on economic exchanges.
Manmohan said India had a “privileged” relationship with France that he wanted to strengthen “in every possible way.”
He also said he wanted to “convince the French business community that India is going to be a competitive destination for foreign investment.”
Manmohan first announced the Airbus deal last week at an India-EU summit. He said Indian Airlines agreed to buy the 19 A319s, four A320s and 20 A321s for $2.2 billion.
The $2.1 billion deal for the six 1,500-ton Scorpene submarines was cleared by India’s Cabinet last Thursday.
The submarines will be armed with French-made Exocet anti-ship missiles. The deal provides for the transfer of technology to India so the submarines can be manufactured under license in Bombay, Indian authorities said.
French defense electronics firm Thales said it would earn $744.9 million from the Scorpene contract, supplying equipment for the submarines’ combat systems, underwater sensors, communications and optics, and electronic warfare equipment.
Manmohan was in Paris en route to New York for a UN summit of world leaders, where he plans to push for a permanent seat on the Security Council and discuss civilian nuclear energy cooperation.
