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France hails strategic dialogue with India

Sudhakar Nair in Paris

India and France on Tuesday held the sixth round of their strategic dialogue with Paris declaring it a "very important part" of the partnership between the two countries.

"The Indo-French strategic dialogue is moving at a cruising speed and it is a very important part of our partnership," a senior French foreign ministry official told the Press Trust of India ahead of the two-day talks.

Brajesh Mishra, principal secretary to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, is heading the five-member Indian delegation at the talks split into three to four sessions. Gerard Errera, special envoy to President Jacques Chirac, is leading the French side.

The strategic dialogue between India and France was launched shortly after Chirac's visit to India in January 1998.

The French official said France "values very much" the talks on a range of security and disarmament issues.

"No specific issue is expected to be taken up at the Paris meeting, though non-proliferation and strategic affairs are the main items for discussion," the official said.

The Paris meeting is the first security dialogue by India since the launch of the upgraded version of the Agni intermediate range ballistic missile early this month.

The official said the South Asian situation would also figure at the talks during a review of regional and global issues.

France has already conveyed its appreciation over India's initiatives, including the unilateral ceasefire, to restore peace in Kashmir.

Replying to a question, the official said Indo-French relations have reached a point that can be described as "quite substantial" and marked by "mutual trust".

"Our political relations at all levels are excellent," he said.

But the official said it was "very crucial" that India and France make some "serious efforts" to increase their bilateral trade.

Mishra is due to have a meeting with French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine and Defence Minister Allan Ricard before leaving for Munich to attend the annual security conference.

PTI

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