Paving the way for construction of French nuclear reactors in the country, India and France today signed a general framework agreement and four other pacts for deeper bilateral cooperation in the atomic energy sector.

After delegation-level talks between visiting president Nicolas Sarkozy and prime minister Manmohan Singh, both sides also signed three other agreements.

The general framework agreement between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and French company AREVA has been signed for construction of nuclear power plant (NPP) units in Jaitapur in Maharashtra

An 'Early Works Agreement' between NPCIL and AREVA was also signed for the project. The early works pact is essential to start implementation of the 10,000-MWe nuclear project at Jaitapur in Maharashtra.

Another agreement on 'Protection of Confidentiality of Technical Data and Information Relating to Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy' was also signed following the talks.

Seeking to enhance cooperation in the atomic energy sector, a cooperation agreement between the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and France's atomic energy commission the Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives(CEA) was signed for engagement in the field of nuclear science and technology.

An agreement concerning intellectual property rights on the development of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy was also signed.

Besides those on nuclear cooperation, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Centre National D'tudes Spatiales (CNEc) for Cooperation also signed a pact for cooperation in the field of earth science and climate change.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni and French Minister of Culture and Communication Frederic Mitterrand inked an agreement on film co-production.

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PM, Sarkozy bond over dinner, discuss nuke ties

Visiting French president Nicolas Sarkozy and prime minister Manmohan Singh met over dinner on Sunday and are believed to have discussed civil nuclear cooperation on which some agreements are likely to be signed tomorrow.

Singh hosted a private dinner for the French leader and his wife Carla Bruni at his official residence here which was attended by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, lok sabha speaker Meira Kumar and some of the senior cabinet ministers including finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, external affairs minister S M Krishna, foreign secretary Nirupama Rao and national security adviser Shivshankar Menon.

During the meeting, the French leader is understood to have raised the issue relating to the civil nuclear liability legislation to which he was told that the concerns, if any, will be addressed.

Apart from civil nuclear cooperation, the two leaders are likely to discuss a host of issues, including terrorism, during their official talks tomorrow.

Sarkozy has come to India hoping to take back a mega nuclear deal and reinvigorate ties in key areas like space technology.

Earlier, Sarkozy flew in from a overnight stay at Agra where he visited the Taj Mahal and the Fatehpur Sikri, which is about 30 km away from the city.

Presently on a four-day trip to the country, Sarkozy arrived at Bangalore yesterday and visited ISRO.

Immediately after his arrival, Sarkozy made remarks backing India's bid for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council as well as membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Sarkozy's support to India for the NSG entry comes nearly a month after US president Barack Obama supported New Delhi's full membership in multilateral groupings like the NSG, the Missile Technology Control Regime (MCTR), the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement.