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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Swedish counterpart Fredrik Reinfeldt held wide-ranging talks on Thursday to give a fresh impetus to their ties in the fields of trade, energy and environment.
Manmohan Singh held delegation-level talks with Reinfeldt, who arrived on Thursday morning on a three-day visit to attend the 10th summit between India and the 27-nation European Union to be held on Friday.
The Swedish delegation comprised Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt and Trade Minister Dr Ewa Bjrling besides senior officials.
The global financial crisis and climate change topped the list of global issues discussed between the two sides.
They also sought to expand cooperation in the field of nuclear energy and non-renewable energy.
Sweden, a member of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group that backed India in the NSG last year, has well-known expertise in nuclear waste management and security. Indian and Swedish nuclear companies are in touch with each other over ways to take their cooperation forward in this area.
Reinfeldt, also chairman of the Swedish presidency of the EU, sought India's support for a new global deal on climate change that tops the agenda of a crucial UN conference in Copenhagen next month.
Speaking at The Energy and Research Institute (TERI) earlier in the day, Reinfeldt underlined the need for a viable climate change deal that will replace the 1997 Kyoto protocol.
Reinfeldt also met Vice-President Hamid Ansari, United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and BJP leader L.K. Advani.
The Swedish prime minister along with European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso will represent the 27-nation European Union at its 10th summit Friday. The two sides are likely to sign two agreements in the fields of civil nuclear energy and counter-terrorism.
