French President Emmanuel Macron held talks in New Delhi on Saturday with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the fields of defense, security, technology, space and counter-terrorism.
Macron had arrived in India on Friday on a four-day visit.
The two leaders also pledged to work together to ensure freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean and signed an agreement to expedite construction of a big nuclear power plant in India by a French company.
Macron said France and India should be key partners.
"And I dream to have more and more Indian citizens coming to France — studying, becoming entrepreneurs, creating startups — and I want my country to be a best partner in Europe, an entry point," Macron said at a reception ceremony.
Modi said it was critical for the two countries to cooperate in the Indian Ocean region.
"Both our countries believe that for world peace, progress and prosperity in the future, the Indian Ocean region is going to play a very important role," he said.
To help ensure freedom of navigation, the space agencies of the two countries signed an accord to help them detect, identify and monitor sea vessels.
The two countries also agreed to exchange information and technical experts in the fields of environment and climate change.
The nuclear agreement is considered significant, with critics saying that Jaitpur, the site of the six-unit plant, which is to generate 9,900 megawatts of power in western India, is in a seismic zone. The opposition has grown since Japan's nuclear accident in 2011, with several villagers refusing to hand over their land to the Indian government for the project by the French nuclear energy company Areva.
Another agreement envisages reciprocal logistical support between the two countries' armed forces.
In 2016, India signed an $8.78 billion deal with France to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets in "ready to fly" condition, meaning they will be made in France.
After a warm reception at the airport by Modi, Macron said: "The first (objective of my visit) is to seal for the decade to come a strong pact around collective security in the region between our two democracies."
Macron also talked about his personal rapport with Modi which was established after their meeting in Paris last year.
"I think we have very good chemistry, our two great democracies have a historic relationship," the French president said.
Modi broke protocol to receive Macron at the airport, exchanging warm hugs and robust handshakes.
"Welcome to India, President @EmmanuelMacron! Your visit will add great strength to the strategic partnership between India and France," he tweeted Friday.
On Sunday, Macron will attend a solar power summit designed to showcase India and France's commitment to fighting climate change, which both leaders have made a priority.
Traveling with his wife Brigitte, France's 40-year-old president will also visit the monument to love, the Taj Mahal, a few hours drive from the Indian capital on Sunday.
On Monday, he heads to the chaotic Hindu holy city of Varanasi on the banks of the river Ganges, which the Indian premier has promised to modernize and clean up.
