India, France review cooperation on civil nuclear energy

Both sides undertook a comprehensive review of progress over the past year in civil nuclear cooperation through various meetings and consultations.

Updated on: Sep 22, 2025, 23:26:53 IST

By Rezaul H Laskar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

NEW DELHI: India and France on Monday reviewed cooperation in civil nuclear energy, including emerging technologies such as small and advanced modular reactors, and advancing joint cooperation with third countries.

Foreign secretary Vikram Misri (ANI Video Grab)

These matters figured in a meeting of the bilateral special task force on civil nuclear energy co-chaired in New Delhi by foreign secretary Vikram Misri and Anne-Marie Descôtes, secretary-general of the French foreign ministry.

Both sides undertook a comprehensive review of progress over the past year in civil nuclear cooperation through various meetings and consultations. They “reaffirmed the importance of engagement in emerging technologies like Small and Advanced Modular Reactors (SMRs/AMRs)”, the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

The two sides also agreed to remain in close touch on various key aspects of bilateral civil nuclear cooperation.

In February, India and France had finalised a declaration of intent on working together on SMRs and AMRs, which are seen as crucial as green energy sources to meet the needs of data and AI hubs.

Misri and Descôtes also held discussions on developments in bilateral cooperation and for strengthening the bilateral partnership by advancing cooperation in sectors such as defence, counter-terrorism, innovation and technology and space, and advancing cooperation with third countries in a trilateral format.

They also discussed global and regional developments, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and developments in West Asia, the external affairs ministry said.

At a meeting in February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron had stressed that nuclear energy is an essential part of the energy mix for both countries for strengthening energy security and transitioning towards a low-carbon economy.

At the time, the two sides had held the first meeting of the special task force on civil nuclear energy, and signed the letter of intent on SMRs and AMRs. They also finalised an implementing agreement between nuclear bodies of the two countries for cooperation in training of nuclear professionals.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rezaul H Laskar
Rezaul Hasan Laskar is Foreign Editor with the Hindustan Times, which he joined in 2015. He began as a journalist in his hometown of Shillong in northeast India and has worked in newspapers and wire services over the years. He moved to New Delhi in 1997 and initially focused on defence, national security, Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast, while also working of foreign policy and international relations. He has been part of the media delegation accompanying PMs on foreign visits and has reported from destinations ranging from Tibet to Ukraine. Between 2007 and 2013, he was the Press Trust of India correspondent in Pakistan, one of only two Indian journalists allowed to report from the country. He extensively covered Pakistan’s domestic politics and the life of the common people, as well as the fallout of the 2008 Mumbai attacks on India-Pakistan relations and the subsequent trial in Pakistan of the suspects involved in the attack. As part of his reportage in Pakistan, he travelled the breadth of the country, from the Swat Valley to Balochistan. Reza’s first gig in journalism was writing a weekly music column, and music – especially classic rock – remains a keen interest. He is also a movie buff and a keen photographer.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather major national developments and Karnataka Bandh LIVE.