India, France likely to sign agreement to start nuclear commerce

New Delhi, Sept 20 : India and France are likely to sign a frame work agreement to start nuclear commerce between the two countries.

The agreement will be signed during Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's visit to Paris on September 30.

After his visit to the United States, Dr. Singh will leave for France to attend the India European Summit to Marseilles and hold a meeting with the French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The India-European Summit will discuss the issue and revised joint action plan adopted in 2006 to strengthen the partnership. The summit will also deliberate on a joint working programme on energy and climate change.

After the summit Dr. Singh would leave for New York, where he is schedule to address the United Nations General Assembly on September 26. He is expected to take up the issues of global food crises, combating terrorism, promoting disarmament and global economy.

The Prime Minister will take up the expansion and reforms in the UN Security Council so that the world body reflects the current global realities.

Dr. Singh is likely to hold talks with President Bush on wide-ranging initiatives taken by the two countries in the recent years. The historic Indo-US Civil Nuclear cooperation deal is likely to be signed during the meeting.

He will also hold meetings with several world leaders including the Chinese Prime Minister and Pakistan President.

ANI