How has the French government been perceiving developments in India, both in the political and economic spheres?
In strategic terms we have been very quick to realise that India was becoming one of the major nations of the 21st century. We never have had any reluctance to admit that. We always supported the idea that India should have a specific treatment regarding nuclear issues. Some of our Western partners had some sort of reluctance that we never had. Given its general behaviour we believed that India should be treated in a specific way. But, on other hand, we had a disadvantage compared to the others because of the few weaknesses in the economic sphere. Five years ago India was not prepared for viable economic cooperation. Today such cooperation may be embryonic but it is there. In all sorts of fields you have the same thing. Regarding the international responsibilities of the two countries, the world is only becoming more complex and difficult and it makes even more sense to have a deep relationship and an exchange of consultations. This is also true in the context of the new start in Europ
