Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to holdbilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron during his two-day statevisit to France from August 22 with an aim to strengthen cooperation in thefields of defence, maritime security, counter-terrorism, and civil nuclearenergy along with robust trade and investment relations.The Prime Minister willarrive in France on Thursday evening and will straightaway head to talks withMacron, who will also host a special dinner for PM Modi at the Chateau deChantilly, a 19th-century site located in Oise, 60 km from Paris.

During his visit to France, the PM is also scheduled toaddress the Indian community in Paris and also inaugurate the Memorial for theIndian victims of the Air India crashes at Nid D`Aigle.

"The bilateral visit to France and the invitation to G7Summit are in keeping with the tradition of strong and close partnership andhigh-level political contacts between India and France," the Ministry ofExternal Affairs said in a statement. Informed sources have told thatsignificant talks on climate change, financing, and collaboration for greentechnologies, specific roadmap and open partnership in new areas like digitaland cyberspace, and skill development will be the key thrust of the visit andagreements in this regard will be inked.

Agreements on collaboration in science and technology arealso expected. However, no agreement on defence cooperation is on the cards. Discussionon future roadmap vis-a-vis defence collaboration is expected, sources said.The issue of Jaitapur nuclear reactors may also come up during the PM`s visit.Informed sources said the talks on the cost-effectiveness of reactors aremoving in the right direction and there is no roadblock.

There will also be discussions on regional issues like Iran,the peace process in Afghanistan and terror financing, they said.Interestingly,Modi is visiting France ahead of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meet inParis. The Paris-based anti-money laundering watchdog, also known by its Frenchname - Groupe d`action financiere - is an intergovernmental organisationfounded in 1989 on the initiative of the G-7 to develop policies to combatmoney laundering.

In 2001, its mandate expanded to include terrorismfinancing. Informed sources say that any action on Pakistan on terror financingwill be considered only after seeing the report submitted by Pakistan.

When asked whether India-Pakistan tension post abrogation ofArticle 370 will come up in during PM Modi's visit to France, informed sourcestold that French position is clear that it is a bilateral issue.Speaking aboutrecently concluded UNSC meet on Kashmir where France reportedly favoured Indianposition, informed sources said: "France is not just a partner of Indiabut it is a friend in need.''

A very comprehensive and significant joint statement willalso be issued. Indian and French leadership will also exchange notes on theirrespective positions on G-7.

From France, the prime minister will leave for a bilateralvisit to UAE and Bahrain and will return to Biarritz city in France to attendthe G7 summit wherein he will focus on how India has been approaching issues ofclimate change and biodiversity, and also showcase how it has used technologyto boost inclusive development.

On the sidelines, the prime minister will be havingbilateral meetings with leaders of other countries. PM Modi will on Fridayarrive in the UAE he where will receive the Order of Zayed, the UAE`s highestcivilian honour that was conferred on him in April for boosting bilateral ties.

Meanwhile, his visit to Bahrain will mark the first by anyIndian prime minister to the country. Modi will meet Bahrain Prime MinisterPrince Khalifa bin Salman Ali Khalifa and discuss bilateral and internationalissues.