By Manish Chand,IANS,
On Board Prime Minister’s Special Aircraft : Ahead of the India-EU summit that begins Monday in Marseilles, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday expressed hope that the nuclear pact between India and France will come up for “possible signature” during his talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
“We had initialled a framework agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation earlier this year, it will come up for review and possible signature during the visit,” Manmohan Singh told reporters on way from New York to Marseilles.
He said he was looking forward to his meeting with President Nicolas Sarkozy.
After attending the ninth India-EU summit at the resort town of Marseilles in the French Riviera Monday, the prime minister goes to Paris Tuesday to meet Sarkozy.
France is the chair of the rotating presidency of the European Union. Sarkozy will be present during the India-EU summit.
With the India-US nuclear deal nearing congressional approval, India and France are expected to sign a bilateral civil nuclear cooperation pact that will restore nuclear business with France after a gap of more than three decades.
Manmohan Singh will also participate in the EU-India Business Forum organised by MEDEF, the French Association of Enterprises. Commerce and Industries Minister Kamal Nath and his delegation will later meet a number of French CEOs.