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Sarkozy Asks India to Play Role in G20 Agenda

04 December 2010 21:54 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has asked India to support France’s agenda in the G20 group of the world’s leading economies at the start of his four-day trip to the South Asian nation, APA reports quoting voanews.com website.

Speaking at the Space Research Organization in Bangalore Saturday, Mr. Sarkozy asked India to help reform the global monetary system, saying the Indian rupee will one day be a major world currency.

France is pushing for monetary reform and greater regulation of the commodities market during its presidency of the G20 group of major economies.

Mr. Sarkozy also offered his support for India’s bid to get a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, echoing a call made by U.S. President Barack Obama last month.

Mr. Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni, rushed over to the Taj Mahal Saturday evening, a day earlier than they had scheduled. The surprise change in plans angered tourists who were asked to leave the historic monument for security reasons.

The French president is traveling with a delegation of some 50 senior business people and top Cabinet officials. He is expected to lobby on behalf of French companies chasing multi-billion-dollar Indian contracts for fighter jets and nuclear technology.

Mr. Sarkozy will meet Monday with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

On Tuesday, the French president is scheduled to travel to India’s commercial capital, Mumbai, where he will pay his respects to the victims of the 2008 militant attacks on the city that claimed 166 lives.