Hollande, Manmohan discuss Jaitapur, Rafale;
sign four agreements
Thursday February 14, 2013 11:44:12 PM,
IANS
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New Delhi: India and France Thursday discussed
progress in negotiations over the Jaitapur nuclear power project
and the over $10-billion deal for 126 Rafale fighter jets during
talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and French President
Francois Hollande here.
Both sides inked four agreements, including on railways.
Hollande, who arrived here early Thursday at the head of a
high-level delegation which includes six ministers and a 50-member
trade delegation, said France and India, which became strategic
partners in 1998, are taking their relationship to "yet another
stage".
Addressing a joint press conference with Manmohan Singh after
delegation-level talks, Hollande said while France and India do
not share the same kind of people or economy, they both "share the
same values and principles".
He also said India was the world's largest democracy not just by
its people but by its diversity. "Both care for independence,
democracy and autonomy."
On defence ties, Hollande said France and India have been
cooperating for many years. "India trusts France for its equipment
and France trusts India for its use... India is a land of peace."
While negotiations for the contract for 126 Rafale medium
multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) - manufactured by Dassault
Aviation - for the Indian Air Force are still on, the two sides
concluded discussions on a deal for co-developing the short-range
surface-to-air missile (SRSAM) project.
Hollande said details of the Rafale deal were being discussed "and
we do hope we can reach an early conclusion".
At a press conference later, he ruled out France ever compromising
on defence trade rules amid corruption allegations clouding
India's chopper deal with Italy's AgustaWestland.
Hollande said France would do "nothing contrary to the rules of
trade" that were based on the principles of competitiveness and
fairness, while pointing out the "excellence" of the Rafale jet.
He said France has "confidence in India, which is a peaceful
power… and we must provide the best material and equipment to
India… It is a relation of confidence and trust between us."
Both countries were strategic partners also for energy. "France
and India want to build on their civil nuclear energy
cooperation," said Hollande, adding that both countries also want
to take forward their ties in space, education and culture.
During a meet with business leaders, Hollande said France will
support India on its negotiations with the EU on clinching a free
trade agreement (FTA) and voiced his keenness to boost bilateral
trade.
In the fields of transport, railways, trams, sanitation and water,
he said "France has to prove that it is of service to the Indian
economy".
On terrorism, he said both countries face a lot of challenges.
Referring to the Mumbai attacks, he said "India was hit by a
barbaric attack".
On Mali, where France sent its troops to push out the Al Qaeda
militants, Hollande welcomed India's pledge of $1 million to the
United Nations-backed Mission in the north African country.
Hollande said India's support to France's move in Mali was part of
the "element of credibility of our relationship".
Manmohan Singh said India regards France as "one of its most
valued strategic partners" and their relationship is "defined by
the breadth and diversity of our cooperation, as well as by the
intensity of our dialogue".
On Jaitapur, he said: "We reviewed progress... and reiterated our
commitment to its early implementation as soon as the commercial
and technical negotiations, which have made good progress, are
completed."
Manmohan Singh said both sides "expressed satisfaction with the
progress in our defence cooperation, which is poised to reach a
qualitatively new level".
"Discussions on the MMRCA contract are progressing well."
"There is a welcome shift from defence trade to co-development and
co-production of advanced defence items in India, which will help
expand our domestic production base and strengthen the
India-France strategic partnership," Manmohan Singh said.
France and India inked agreements in the railway sector, a
cultural exchange programme, a letter of intent on intensification
of cooperation in the fields of education, higher education and
research and a statement of intent for long-term cooperation in
space.
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