A wide range of issues, including the finalisation of the agenda for the France President Nicolas Sarkozy’s first trip to India in 2008, will be topping foreign minister Bernard Kouchner’s meetings with his counterpart.
During his four-day visit starting from Thursday, both he and external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee will discuss a host of bilateral and international issues, including enhancing business ties, civil nuclear cooperation and cooperation in tackling global challenges, global warming, public health and the fight against emerging diseases. Both countries are also expected to discuss the possibilities of civil nuclear cooperation between the two countries.
Mukherjee who will meet Kouchner on Thursday will also seek France’s help in persuading some skeptical members of the 27-nation European Union, like the Scandinavian countries, to back the nuclear deal, an official source said.
Kouchner will call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday and discuss with him a host of issues.
He will call on Congress president and the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chief Sonia Gandhi.
During his visit, Kouchner, will participate in a debate with Indian NGOs on the theme of ?international solidarity for health?.
He is also scheduled to visit Agra, the external affairs ministry said here on Wednesday.
India and France have a strategic partnership since 1998, spanning cooperation in a wide range of fields including political, economic, defence and high technology areas like space and civilian nuclear energy.