India, France review strategic ties, focus on space, N-energy

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 15

India and France today undertook an extensive review of its bilateral strategic partnership with focus on areas of defence, space, civil nuclear energy and Indo-Pacific during talks External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held here with French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian.

“We had very fruitful talks. We closely looked at all the aspects of our mutual ties. We are taking our cooperation forward in the Indo-Pacific region, which will not only benefit these two countries but also other countries in the region,” Swaraj said.

Describing the defence relations between the two countries as historic, she said India and France are both associated in a number of exchanges, including training and joint exercises. Incidentally, the visit came a day after the Supreme Court’s judgment upholding the Rafale multi-role strike aircraft deal. Sources privy to discussions maintained the issue did not figure in the talks.

Swaraj also reiterated the resolve of the two countries to jointly fight terrorism while on his part the French minister said the strategic partnership, now in its 20th year, also meant strengthening of exchanges on the Indian Ocean and shared commitment to fight terrorism, as “we mark 10 years since the deadly Mumbai attacks”.

She said both countries will have to work to further strengthen trade relations with last year bilateral trade recording 9.62 billion euro.

Both leaders also reviewed the progress of the European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) in Jaitapur, Maharashtra and adopted an action plan to guide work in the coming months. The visiting minister said: “We adopted an action plan to guide our work for the coming months so as to advance as efficiently as possible towards the final decision for building this power plant.”

The project, the French minister said, will also contribute to Make in India as it involves transfers of production, technology, joint research and training. Besides this, he said French companies are investing and innovating in India and working on urban development and digital economy.