"Henri Proglio (head of EDF) has had a dozen meetings with (Rosatom chief) Sergei Kirenko" during a nuclear conference held here, an EDF spokesman told AFP.

"They are considering ways to expand cooperation," he added.

The French financial newspaper Les Echos reported earlier that the two parties were considering a partnership to supply nuclear reactors to clients outside France and Russia.

"The idea is to transform existing collaboration between EDF and Rosatom to a level of international strategic cooperation," Rosatom communications director Sergei Novikov told the newspaper.

EDF, through the Italian group Fenice, and Inter Rao, 57 percent controlled by Rosatom, earlier this month signed an agreement to create a new enterprise -- jointly held by EDF and Rosatom -- specialising in energy efficiency.

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