Cooperation in civilian nuclear energy, defence, climate change and economic linkages is high on agenda of talks between India and France during French President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to India on January 25-26, informed sources said on Monday.
The sources said the two countries had completed negotiations on the Civilian Nuclear Framework Agreement but France will wait for India to conclude parleys with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
"We will be ready with a text to take a decision once India is ready after negotiations (with the IAEA and NSG) are concluded," the sources said.
The French president who is arriving in Delhi on January 25 on a two-day state visit, primarly to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade the next day, will have official engagements on the day of his arrival.
He will be accompanied by a huge delegation including six ministers, about 60 CEOs, 20 people from the higher education department and two of his personal invitees.
However, speculation continued on whether his girlfriend Carla Bruni will accompany him. The sources, when asked, merely expressed ignorance.
On January 25, he will call on President Pratibha Patil and have talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on several bilateral matters and regional and international issuess including Pakistan and Iran.
The delegation-level talks between the two countries will be preceded by one-on-one talks between President Sarkozy and Dr Singh.
This is the second time during the past decade when a French president is the chief guest at the Republic Day parade.
In 1998, the then president Jacques Chirac was the chief guest on the Republic Day.