By KUNA,
New Delhi : India hopes to build strategic partnership in nuclear energy, defence and other areas with France during Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singhs visit to Paris, which begins today, a PM official statement said.
“We would like to build upon our partnership in the areas of trade and investment, high technology, space, nuclear energy, defence, education, culture, tourism and scientific research and development (with France),” he said in the statement issued prior to his departure to France on the invitation of French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
He added: “India and France enjoy a close and wide ranging strategic partnership. Our relations with France encompass a large number of areas and have served our national interests well.” France, which had signed a civil nuclear energy pact with India last September, is a member of both G-8 and Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
After concluding his France visit, Singh will leave for Egypt to attend the NAM (non-aligned movement) Summit in Sharm-el Sheikh (in Egypt). In Egypt, Singh is most likely to have a one-to-one meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani.