January 7, 2003	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 3, 1423

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NEW DELHI, Jan 6: French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin will pay a state visit to India on Feb 6-7 to launch a “French Season”, a series of economic and cultural events aimed at promoting bilateral ties.

Raffarin, on his first trip outside Europe, will be accompanied by several key ministers and a significant business delegation.

On Feb 6 he will visit the southern city of Bangalore, IT and aeronautical capital of India, to boost a revival in trade with India, considered a “strategic partner” by Paris since a visit to New Delhi by President Jacques Chirac in 1998.—AFP