Chirac aims to boost Indian trade, nuclear ties

[tocqueville]

By Y.P. Rajesh and Sophie Louet
7 minutes ago

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - French President Jacques Chirac held talks with Indian leaders on Monday in a bid to boost trade ties with Asia's third largest economy and push forward plans to cooperate in the civilian nuclear energy and defense sectors.

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Chirac is not expected to sign a firm agreement on nuclear cooperation until India finalises a plan to separate its civilian and military atomic facilities under an agreement it signed with the United States last year.

But France and India will likely announce their intent to seek a pact, officials said.

France supports India's bid to gain access to nuclear fuel and technology to meet its growing energy needs, ending three decade

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