France has called for a stronger defence cooperation with India and take it to the level beyond mere buyer-seller relationships. The visiting French Defence Minister Herve Morin told reporters in New Delhi that he has delivered a letter from French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on all the issues related to defence cooperation between the two countries. President Sarkozy is expected to visit India early next year. Morin said that during his meetings with Defence Minister A K Antony and the three Services chiefs, the two sides agreed to strengthen their strategic partnership and open new areas of military cooperation and discussed equipment programmes for the Indian armed forces. Terming the announcement of dates for 197 helicopter competition field-trials as a source of satisfaction, he said it is offering its 'Caesar' howitzers for India's requirement for future artillery guns. Several French companies are vying for various Indian defence contracts including 126 combat aircraft, 197 choppers for IAF and Army and artillery systems. He also projected France to be a better contender in Indian Defence market.<br/>The Minister said France is also keen on expanding its cooperation with India in fields of intelligence sharing and land systems. He said India has suffered a great deal and France wants to exchange information in order to fight against terrorism. Maintaining that India and France shared same vision of global issues, Mr Morin said issues such as Iranian nuclear programme and Indian role in Afghanistan and anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden were discussed during his meetings with Indian leadership.