India and France [Images] on Friday signed five agreements, including one for cooperation in the field of nuclear research.

The agreements were signed after talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] and visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy in New Delhi.

The agreement between French Atomic Energy Commission and the Department of Atomic Energy was for constructing and operating Jules Hotowitz (JH) reactor. The reactor will be built by the French Atomic Commission at Cadarache in France.

A Memorandum of Understanding that establishes cooperation between the Baba Atomic Research Centre and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research on the one hand and GANIL on the other on the use of spiral 2 high intensity beam production system will be signed in Mumbai.

GANIL (Grand Accelerateur National d"Ions Lourds) is a heavy ion accelerator based at Caen in France.

Both countries also agreed to intensify exchanges between their nuclear scientists, establish structures for training and undertake nuclear safety research.

In addition, the dialogue between nuclear safety authorities of respective countries will be reinforced, especially in the context of future industrial cooperation.

In the defence sector, an agreement was signed on mutual protection of classified information while both sides agreed to take defence ties beyond buyer-seller relationship.

They decided to initiate detailed discussion on status of Forces Agreement and agreed to intensify joint programmes and prospects in defence industry, conduct joint research and facilitate transfer of technology.
 
Agreements were also signed on transfer of sentenced prisoners and on India-French Development Cooperation through French Development Agency.