By Manish Chand. Paris, France, 01:32 AM IST

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday began a two-day visit to Paris during which India will seal a civil nuclear pact with France, making it the first country to sign such a deal after an NSG waiver enabled New Delhi resume nuclear commerce after a three decade hiatus.

Manmohan Singh was received at Orly Airport by Minister of Immigration Brice Hortefeux, a close advisor of French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Paris rolled out the red carpet to welcome the visiting Indian prime minister.

During the elegantly choreographed ceremonial welcome, the republican guards played Indian and French national anthems, as Manmohan Singh inspected the guard of honour at the airport.

Besides, the nuclear pact, two more agreements on cooperation in the peaceful use of outer space and other on on social security for Indian workers here will be signed during the short visit.

Manmohan Singh and Sarkozy will meet Tuesday at the Elysee Palace here and hold talks on range of bilateral and global issues.

The visit is expected to take the India-French relations to new heights.

The prime minister arrived here after attending the day-long India-EU summit in the French port town of Marseille.

By Manish Chand (Staff Writer, © IANS)