India, France sign five pacts

New Delhi, Jan 25 : India and France today signed five pacts, including on defence and civil nuclear energy, to boost bilateral ties.

Agreement on Mutual Protection of Classified Information in the field of Defence was signed by French Defence Minister Herve Morin and his Indian counterpart AK Antony.

French Justice Minister Rachida Dati and Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil signed the Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners.

Another agreement relating to the participation of Indian Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), in the research project -- the Jules Horowitz Reactor, -- which will be built by the Commissariat a L' Energie Atomique (CEA or French Atomic Energy Commission) was also signed today. CEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alain Bugat and DAE Secretary Dr Anil Kakodkar singed the agreement.

Another agreement concerning the establishment of the Agence Fran§aise de Developpement (AFD - French Development Agency) in India was signed by Ambassador of France to India, Jerome Bonnafont, and Finance Secretary Dr. D.Subba Rao.

An MOU on an International Associated Laboratory in the field of Neuroscience, was signed by INSERM General Director Prof. Andre Syrota and President of the University of Paris, Guy Cousineau; and National Brain Research Centre Prof. Vijayalakshmi Ravindranath.

ANI