Sarkozy, Bruni to arrive on Dec 4

French President Nicholas Sarkozy and first lady Carla Bruni will arrive in India on December 4 for a four-day visit during which the President will seek to strengthen the strategic ties as well fair amount of symbolism.

French President Nicholas Sarkozy and first lady Carla Bruni will arrive in India on December 4 for a four-day visit during which the President will seek to strengthen the strategic ties as well fair amount of symbolism.

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The agreements for putting the civil nuclear cooperation on a faster track, space cooperation, boosting defence ties and counter terrorism measures clubbed with efforts to give a leg-up to cultural bonding will be high on Sarkozy's agenda.

President Sarkoz is scheduled to visit the Indian Space Research Organisation in Bangalore on December 4.

"Space is one of the key areas of cooperation between two countries", said MEA spokesperson Vishnu Prakash.

The inter governmental framework agreement as well as the "early work agreement" between French nuclear major Areva and
Nuclear Power Cooperation of India Limited will be signed during his visit.

France is the first country with which India has entered an agreement for civil nuclear cooperation after getting a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers' Group guidelines.

As part of the itinerary, Sarkozy will visit the Taj Mahal with Carla, the wish that the President had expressed in 2008, besides visiting
Fathepur Sikri.

The President will also visit the targets of 26/ 11 attacks — the Taj and Trident hotels in Mumbai. Bruni will be taking part in AIDS awareness programme in the Capital. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will host a private dinner for the guests on December 5.