Modi-Hollande meet: Nuke reactors, energy, anti- terror message on agenda

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande, who began bilateral talks in Delhi today, are expected to discuss deals on more nuclear reactors, smart cities, space cooperation, business and energy. The French President, who came to India on Sunday, has already signed 16 agreements with India.

Hollande will be the guest of honour at India's Republic Day parade on Tuesday, a sign of the deepening political and commercial ties between the two countries.

All eyes are on the Rs 60,000-cr Rafale Jet deal, but according to sources, it is unlikely to be signed today. The price of combat planes, key to India's plans to modernise its military and keep up with neighbours Pakistan and China, will also surface during the discussions, officials have confirmed. 

Both the leaders are also likely to discuss upgrading the “special and strategic partnership” signed in 1998. For the past few months, officials have been discussing a closer engagement on counter-terrorism cooperation on the lines of the India-US homeland security dialogue.

NSA Ajit Doval is said to have spoken to French counter-terrorism officials during a visit to Paris in mid-January, and France’s top security official and strategic director of its intelligence agency DGSE Christophe Bigot was in Delhi in early December. The dialogue is likely to see more intelligence sharing on terror groups and on cyber-security issues, officials told The Hindu. 

Both sides are likely to announce a new phase of space cooperation between the space agencies ISRO and CNES, with a special satellite dedicated to climate change research. 

In addition, India and France will discuss more cooperation on the lines of the renewable energy agreement signed last April. Shortly after their meeting in Delhi, Modi and Hollande will travel to Gurgaon to inaugurate the International Solar Alliance Secretariat. 

Officials said the two sides could announce new partnerships for more nuclear energy plants, while discussing the hurdles to land acquisition for the six-reactor 9,900-Mw Jaitapur facility for which Areva and NPCIL signed an agreement in 2010. 

The leaders will end the day by attending a banquet hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee and will officiate at the Republic Day parade on the morning of January 26. This is the fifth time a French President is being invited as the chief guest for the parade, marking a record honour for any country invited by India.