French President Jacques Chirac will arrive in New Delhi on Sunday on a three-day visit during which the two countries will sign a declaration on peaceful nuclear energy, a defence agreement and some other pacts.
Chirac will be accompanied by his wife and a high-powered delegation, including five ministers and chief executives of 30 top French companies.
The visit follows the one by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Paris in September last.
Chirac will hold extensive discussions with Singh covering a broad range of issues. President A P J Abdul Kalam will host a banquet for Chirac who will also meet Chairperson of National Advisory Council Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition Lal Kishenchand Advani.
During the visit, the two sides will sign a declaration on development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, an agreement on defence cooperation and a memorandum of understanding on tourism.
The two sides will ink a contract for jointly building a satellite for Eutelsat and MoUs on cooperation between Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad and ESSEC (Ecole Superieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales).
An MoU will also be signed between the Bureau of Energy Efficiency and the ministry of power.
A formal agreement to acquire 43 aircraft from Airbus Industries for Indian (formerly Indian Airlines) is also likely to be signed.
The two countries have a strategic partnership that was initiated in January 1998 during Chirac's first visit to India.
