French Foreign Minister arrives tomorrow

New Delhi, Dec 19 (UNI) Ahead of President Nicholas Sarkozy's visit to India in January, French Foreign Minister and Minister for European Affairs Bernard Kouchner will arrive here tomorrow for talks with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on bilateral matters and regional and international issues.

During the visit from December 20-23, the French Minister will call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

He will also visit Agra.

Mr Kouchner will be accompanied by his wife Ms. Christine Ockrent and officials from the French Foreign Ministry.

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.

The high level interaction between the two countries has continued with a series of Ministerial visits in recent times.

''The visit of Mr. Bernard Kouchner, will further deepen the dynamic India-France relations,'' an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said today.

UNI