French President Nicolas Sarkozy has begun a state visit to India, where he will be the chief guest at Republic Day celebrations in the capital, Delhi.
Mr Sarkozy was not accompanied by his supermodel girlfriend Carla Bruni, who has become the subject of frenzied media speculation in India.
Reports suggests Ms Bruni may yet come on a private visit to join Mr Sarkozy.
Mr Sarkozy is expected to push for greater trade and economic ties in his talks with Indian leaders.
Mr Sarkozy will hold talks on a wide range of bilateral issues with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, reports say.
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The president will also talk about defence contracts and the potential for the future sale of civilian nuclear technology.
'Constraining protocol'
Correspondents say that Mr Sarkozy's trip, coming during to the same week as the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited Delhi, is another sign that western governments are determined to court the rising economic power of India.
The trip sparked intense speculation in the Indian media over whether the French president will be accompanied by Ms Bruni on his visit to the monument of love, the Taj Mahal on Saturday.
Ms Bruni had told a French newspaper that she would not be going to India with him.
An Indian newspaper suggests Ms Bruni may come to India on a "private" visit to coincide with that of the president.
It points out that such a tactic would be a good way to side-step the Indian foreign ministry's "constraining protocol" over the presence of unmarried partners on state visits.
(BBC)
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