NEW DELHI - Making India the first stop of his maiden official visit to Asia since taking over last year, French President Francois Hollande Thursday discussed the progress of two big ticket deals, including a $12-billion deal for 126 Rafale fighter jets.
The two countries inked four agreements, including on education.
During talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Hollande also discussed the contract for Areva to build a 9,900-megawatt nuclear power plant in the western coastal state of Maharashtra worth $9.4 billion.
Talks are hung on the commercial aspect of the deal as well as Indian nuclear liability laws, which entail higher compensation costs on the supplier in the case of a nuclear leak or disaster.
Hollande arrived here early Thursday at the head of a high-level delegation which includes six ministers, including Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Trade Minister Nicole Bricq, and a 50-member trade delegation.
Addressing a joint press conference with Manmohan Singh after delegation-level talks, Hollande 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."
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 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.
Hollande said both countries also want to take forward their ties in space, education and culture.
The visit coincided with the announcement in Paris that the French economy shrank 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter after manufacturers cut thousands of jobs.
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 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".
The Jaitapur nuclear power project has run into stiff opposition from environmentalists who have voiced concern about seismic activity in the area and fears about the safety of nuclear power following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.
Manmohan Singh reiterated India's commitment to its early implementation as soon as "the commercial and technical negotiations, which have made good progress, are completed."
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.
Source: http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/index.php/sid/212580300/scat/3a8a80d6f705f8cc
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