India and France [Images] on Tuesday inked a space cooperation agreement.

The agreement for cooperation in space technology was signed between Astrium and Antrix -- commercial arm of the ISRO -- entailes utilisation of the PSLV launch services.

It was signed by Dr G Madhavan Nair, Chairman ISRO/Antrix, and Secretary Department of Space, and Astrium CEO Francois Auqua.

It enables Astrium to offer attractive solutions in international markets for in-orbit delivery of its earth observation satellites, using the PSLV launch services from Antrix/ISRO.

Both companies have been cooperating during the past five years in the field of space activities, an ANTRIX spokesman said, adding that the cooperation represents a major breakthrough Dr Singh-Sarkozy was the second meeting between the two leaders during the past two days after they met at the Ninth India-European Union Summit at Marseille, a picturesque 2600-year-old port city, on Monday.

The French President, while declaring that the world needed India to fight climate change, sought to allay nuclear proliferation concerns about India, saying "We trust Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh [Images]) and we trust India."