French Ambassador to India Jerome Bonnafont has said that his country wants to see India as a permanent members in the United Nations Security Council and as a full-fledged player in G-8 nations.

"We support India's cause in this." Speaking at the inauguration of Schneider Electric's plant here on Wednesday, Bonnafont said India's economic and technological contribution to the world was significant. At a different fora, Indian Ministry of External Affairs, spokesman, Navtej Sarna told THISDAY that the country would rather seek other country's support forthe UN seat rather than support Nigeria's bid for UN Security council's permananent membership.

According to Bonnafont,the trade between the two countries was going to double in five years. Currently, it was $ 5 billion ($ 2.5 billion on each side). He expected that it would grow to $ 10 billion by 2012-13. The key areas where he saw potential for growth were aeronautics, aviation, nuclear power, space and nanotechnology.

The Ambassador said 80 per cent of electricity needs of France were met from nuclear energy. With its know-how on nuclear energy, France foresaw options for larger investments in the sector in India.Meanwhile, there is international pressure on India not to engage with the military junta in Myanmar that severely cracked down on pro-democracy protestors recently.

But it seems New Delhi has other ideas. Betraying its soft approach towards Myanmar, New Delhi has advised the United Nations Security Councilagainst imposing sanctions, which should only be used as a "last resort", onMyanmar. Instead, India has told the military regime to consider launching a probe into the protests.

Reports have emerged that Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee conveyed India's concerns to his Myanmar counterpart, U Nyan Win, during a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly summit in NewYork last week.

Mukherjee "suggested that the [Myanmar] government could consider undertaking an inquiry into the recent incidents and the use of force", said a statement issued by the foreign ministry. The minister also hoped the "process of national reconciliation andpolitical reform, initiated by the government of Myanmar, would be taken forward expeditiously".

US Congressmen believe that with India strengthening its economic and military ties with the military junta over the past several years is in a position to influence pro-people changes in this South East Asian nation. However, India has publicly appeared to have differed on the stand taken by the US on Burma. At a discussion organised by the Council on Foreign Relations Mukherjee, said India was against imposing sanctions on Burma and it should be used as a last resort by the Security Council. Instead he said, India favored engaging the presentgovernment in a dialogue process.