India,
France sign nine deals
by Ashok Dixit
New
Delhi: Expressing satisfaction over the current status
of Indo-French ties, French President Jacques Chirac and
Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said on Monday
that both countries are committed to a further enhancement
of bilateral relations in the years ahead. Issuing a joint
statement after one-to-one and delegation-level talks that
led to the signing of nine bilateral cooperative pacts between
the two countries, both Chirac and Dr. Singh said that they
had agreed to take their existing strategic partnership
forward by further strengthening bilateral cooperation in
a wide range of fields including political, economic, defence,
space, civil nuclear energy education and research. The
statement further went on to say that both sides had also
agreed to intensify the exchange of high level bilateral
visits and consultations in the various areas of their interaction
in order to further reinforce their comprehensive strategic
partnership. "The two governments will make all efforts
to increase the volume of investment and joint ventures
in each other's countries and realize the great potential
for enhanced business partnerships in the priority sectors
identified by them in the Joint Statement of 12 September
2005. They will also work towards the continued robust growth
of bilateral trade so as to reach the target of doubling
bilateral trade within five years. Small and medium enterprises
have an important role to play in this regard and the two
governments have decided to take specific actions to enhance
cooperation between enterprises, with a particular focus
on SMEs," Monday's Joint Statement said.
It
was also agreed that the two governments would initiate
a dialogue on the possible areas of cooperation in the field
of Intellectual Property Rights. Recalling the Joint Statement
of September 12, 2005 in which they had agreed to work towards
conclusion of a bilateral civilian nuclear cooperation agreement,
they emphasised that the Joint Declaration on Cooperation
on Civil Nuclear Energy, issued today, is an important step
forward in the realisation of that objective and in taking
forward the longstanding Indo-France cooperation in the
civil nuclear energy sector. They agreed to continue to
work together towards the fulfillment of that objective.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction at India joining
as a full partner, the International Thermonuclear Experimental
Reactor (ITER) nuclear fusion project.
France and India have also signed an agreement on defence
cooperation. This is an important element of the strategic
partnership between the two nations, building upon and expanding
co-operation in the defence and military fields, defence
industry, production, procurement, research and development
of defence material, joint exercises, professional exchanges
and training. Indo-French cooperation in the space sector
has a long and successful history between two of the most
advanced countries in this field. The recent successful
launch of the INSAT 4A satellite by Ariane 5G from Kouru,
French Guyana, is a testimony to the existing close cooperation.
Work is also progressing well on the Megha Tropiques Joint
Satellite Mission. Both sides re-iterated the importance
of the Strategic Partnership between India and the European
Union and agreed to work together in further enhancing ties
through the mechanism of the Joint India-EU Action Plan.
The President of France reiterated his country's firm support
for India's candidature for permanent membership of the
Security Council. India and France share common views on
major international issues and call for the reform of the
United Nations system to make it more representative and
effective in meeting both traditional and non-traditional
global challenges. The Prime Minister of India welcomed
the initiative of the President of France to broaden international
consensus on innovative financing for development. India
also welcomed France's decision to implement an air ticket
solidarity contribution to support developing countries
in their combat against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria,
including by the establishment of an international drug
purchase facility in which their pharmaceutical industries
could participate. India would study the modalities of such
a levy and also participate in the Leading Group on Development
Solidarity Levies to be established at the forthcoming Paris
conference.
India and France strongly condemned terrorism in all its
forms and manifestations, constituting, as it does, one
of the most serious threats to international peace and security.
There is a growing need to co-ordinate and intensify bilateral,
regional and global co-operation to combat terrorism in
a sustained and comprehensive manner. Linkages with illicit
trafficking in drugs, small arms and narcotics and weapons
of mass destruction (WMD) have enhanced the destructive
potential and lethal reach of terrorism. The Prime Minister
of India and the President of France reaffirmed their commitment
to work together in fighting terrorism and to make concerted
efforts towards early conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention
on International Terrorism. Both sides also reiterated their
commitment to intensify co- operation in the fields of science
and technology, educational, academic and cultural exchanges,
tourism and other areas of mutual interest, where there
is significant potential yet to be tapped. The Agreements
and MOUs signed today reflect the wide range of bilateral
interaction between India and France and will provide significant
impetus to realizing the full potential of the comprehensive
strategic partnership between the two countries, the statement
concluded.
India,France
sign defence cooperation pact
New Delhi:
India and France signed a defence cooperation agreement
here today. The agreement was signed between the Defence
Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the French Defence Minister
Michele Alliot-Marie following a summit-level meeting between
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and French President Jacques
Chirac. The agreement seeks to promote cooperation between
the two countries in defence and military fields, defence
industry, production, research and development and procurement
of defence material. The agreement also establishes a framework
which aims to cover all cooperation activities conducted
in the field of defence. These activities include, defence
strategic dialogue, professional exchanges, joint exercises,
visits and training, cooperation in the field of defence
material and transfer of technology, exchange of views on
security threats and global terrorism and exchange of experiences
in peace-keeping operations. The India-France High Committee
on Defence Cooperation will be the apex body responsible
for defining, organizing and coordinating bilateral cooperation
activities. The High Committee will be headed by Defence
Secretary on the Indian side and by the Ministerial representative
of the French Defence Minister from the French side.
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