"We have agreed on a defense industrial partnership and signed a memorandum of understanding in the area of civilian nuclear energy," Libyan Foreign Minister Abdul Rahman Shalghem said.

"Drinking water is rare in Libya, so the aim is to allow the desalination of sea water [through nuclear energy]," French presidential aide Claude Gueant said.

Officials said Paris has offered advanced military platforms to Libya in efforts to make the North African nation a leading trading partner. France has also sought to explore for crude oil and natural gas in Libya.

"Obviously I hope that we will sign cooperation accords with Libya," Sarkozy said. "I do not see why France would be the only country not to sign this kind of accord."

Officials said Sarkozy offered to help train Libya's military and security forces. They said France's goal was to enhance Libya's ability to prevent illegal immigration to Europe.

"We are renewing, renovating our relations with Libya and restarting diplomatic relations," French presidential spokesman David Martinon said.

France's Dassault Aerospace has been awarded a contract by Libya to maintain and overhaul 12 French-origin Mirage F1 jets, procured by Tripoli more than 20 years ago. Dassault was also said to have been negotiating the sale of its Rafale fighter to Tripoli.