Monday, September 12 2005 19:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Paris: France today (Sept 12, 2005) came out strongly in support of India's bid for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council, saying its aspiration was 'legitimate' and hoped it would be realised.

Welcoming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the Elysee Palace here, President Jacques Chirac also expressed his determination to move forward for cooperation in the field of nuclear energy.

Emphasising that for France, India was a 'major partner' of the world today, he said, "and this is the reason why France has always supported India's positions, in particular her legitimate aspiration for a seat at the UN Security Council as a permanent member".

"France supports this aspiration and hopes that it will be fulfilled," he said.

On cooperation in the field of energy, particularly in nuclear energy, within the framework of the rules governing non-proliferation, he said, "we have some progress to make in this domain and the will and determination to progress together with respect to international rules".

Chirac said Indo-French relations and interactions dealt with the major international issues, the preparation of the UN meeting which is to take place in a few days, the problems related to terrorism and development, and all the crises which existed in the world.

He said the two sides would also have the occasion to underline their determination to considerably develop their exchanges in all the political sectors within a truly 'consultative and cooperative framework'.

Emphasising that India held Chirac in the 'highest esteem' as a world statesman, the Prime Minister said France was a very important member of the European Union with which India has established a strategic partnership. France, he said, can play a very important role in fulfilment of the commitment under the strategic partnership.

Underlining the need for strengthening India's economic cooperation with France, the Prime Minister said, "Our trade, our investment flows are moving in the right direction. But they are far below their potential."

He sought Chirac's support to ensure that business communities from both countries interact with each other more often, more productively, more fruitfully, than was the case in the past as "India is going to be a competitive destination for foreign investment".

The Prime Minister stressed that both countries had a joint concern to ensure that the growing inter-dependence of nations was managed in a manner, which gave satisfaction to all countries.

"We recognise globalisation is a reality which has tremendous opportunities and we all have to work a lot to ensure that the global system, political order, the economic order is managed in a just and equitable manner for the benefit of all countries of the world", he said. Describing India and France as strategic partners in many ways, he said, "we have had rewarding defence cooperation, we are going to build on that".