Bilateral Brief

Relations between India and France have traditionally been close and friendly. With the establishment of the strategic partnership in 1998, there has been significant progress in all areas of bilateral cooperation through regular high-level exchanges at the Head of State/Head of Government levels and growing commercial exchanges including in strategic areas such as defence, nuclear energy and space. France was the first country with which India entered into an agreement on nuclear energy following the waiver given by International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group enabling India to resume full civil nuclear cooperation with the international community. Today our relations are growing fast in important areas for the future, with wide-ranging cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields and on defence, space, science & technology, and education. France has consistently supported India’s increasing role in international fora.

 At the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh, President Sarkozy undertook his second visit to India from 4-7 December 2010. His visit contributed to further strengthening the bilateral relationship between India and France – especially in key areas of civil nuclear, space and defence co-operation. This was an occasion for both leaders
to reaffirm their shared vision and values and to announce their determination to give a new impetus to the Indo-French Strategic Partnership and greater content to our economic and commercial relations, while expanding ties in the fields of culture, science and technology and education.

 In the last two years, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Sarkozy have also met at international conferences - the G-8 + 5 in Italy and the G-20 Summit in London (April 2009) and Pittsburg (Sept 2009). The two leaders held a separate meeting on the sidelines of the CHOGM in Trinidad & Tobago on 27 November 2009 and G-20 Summit in Toronto in June 2010 and in Seoul in November 2010, and discussed both bilateral and global issues.

PM’s visit as Guest of Honour to the 14 July Bastille Day Celebrations: Earlier, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had visited France from 13-14 July 2009. He was the guest of honour at the French National Day celebrations (Bastille Day parade).  A 400-strong contingent of the Indian armed forces led the Bastille Day parade - the first time ever, that Indian troops took part in another country’s national day parade. President Sarkozy hosted a lunch in honour of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, after which PM and the President addressed a larger gathering at the President’s National Day reception at the Elysée. PM extended an invitation to President Sarkozy and his wife to visit India which they did in December 2010.

French Foreign Minister, Mr. Alain Juppé paid an official visit to India on 20th October 2011. He met External Affairs Minister Shri S.M. Krishna and reviewed the progress on the implementation of the Joint Declaration on bilateral, regional and international issues of common interest and importance “India-France: Partnership for the Future” adopted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Nicolas Sarkozy on December 6, 2010.

Reaffirming that the India-France Strategic Partnership has been steadily strengthening and widening in scope, they agreed on a roadmap for its further development.

Institutional Structure for dialogue

France and India have instituted a high-level, Strategic Dialogue at the level of National Security Advisors which provides both sides an opportunity to review key elements of the bilateral agenda between India and France and particularly, the overall global security situation and emerging challenges. The 23^rd round of the India-France Strategic Dialogue took place in Paris on 12th September, 2011.  Annual Foreign Office Consultations are held at the level of Foreign Secretaries of the two countries. The last Consultations took place in Paris on 6^th May, 2011. A special Joint Working Group on Terrorism has been established for cooperation in the fight against terrorism.  A High Level Committee for Defence at the level of Defence Secretaries, working through its three specialized sub-committees, deals with issues related to bilateral defence cooperation.  The last meeting was held in Paris on 18 – 19 November 2010. A Joint Committee for Economic and Technical Cooperation at the level of Ministers of Commerce, deals with issues related to commerce and trade. The last meeting was held in Paris, on 24-25 June 2010. Minister of Commerce and Industry led the Indian delegation.

The Indo-French CEOs Forum formed in 2009 was called upon to identify new avenues for cooperation and take initiatives to facilitate business links between both countries.  The second meeting of the CEO’s Forum, held in Paris in June 2010 had focused on Energy, Water and Infrastructure, Green Growth, Education and fostering Joint Ventures for investment in third countries. Tasked to propose ways of strengthening bilateral economic and trade linkages in the field of clean energy and education, the Forum submitted their recommendations to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and President Sarkozy during the latter's visit to India in December 2010.