Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met US President George Bush on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the G8 summit, to discuss the last lap of the Indo-US Nuclear deal.
Both leaders reiterated their stand on the deal saying it was important for both the countries. Manmohan Singh even told reporters after the meeting that ties with Washington have never been better.
One of the top agendas of their meeting were ways to get the approval of the IAEA and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) so that the nuclear deal may move ahead.
Meanwhile, Bush has also congratulated Manmohan Singh on his leadership.
"I respect the prime minister a lot," Bush told reporters after their meeting. "I also respect India a lot. And I think it's very important that the United States continues to work with our friend to develop not only a new strategic relationship, but a relationship that addresses some of the world's problems. We talked about the India-US nuclear deal and how important that is for our respective countries."
Manmohan Singh told mediapersons, "In this increasingly inter-dependent world that we live in, whether it the question of climate change or whether it is a question of managing the global economy, India and the United States must stand tall, must stand shoulder to shoulder."
Of course, Manmohan Singh has already started lobbying for the deal with international leaders. On Tuesday, he met Chinese President Hu Jintao to get a concrete assurance that China will not block India's path at the NSG.
The Indo-US Nuclear Deal would reverse three decades of US policy by allowing the sale of atomic fuel and technology to India, which has not signed international nonproliferation accords but has tested nuclear weapons. In return, India, would open its civilian reactors to international inspections.
US critics worry the agreement could spark a nuclear arms race in Asia and weaken international efforts to prevent states like Iran and North Korea from acquiring nuclear weapons.
In India, critics say it would undermine India's weapons program and give Washington too much influence over Indian foreign policy.
Courtesy : www.ibnlive.com
Both leaders reiterated their stand on the deal saying it was important for both the countries. Manmohan Singh even told reporters after the meeting that ties with Washington have never been better.
One of the top agendas of their meeting were ways to get the approval of the IAEA and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) so that the nuclear deal may move ahead.
Meanwhile, Bush has also congratulated Manmohan Singh on his leadership.
"I respect the prime minister a lot," Bush told reporters after their meeting. "I also respect India a lot. And I think it's very important that the United States continues to work with our friend to develop not only a new strategic relationship, but a relationship that addresses some of the world's problems. We talked about the India-US nuclear deal and how important that is for our respective countries."
Manmohan Singh told mediapersons, "In this increasingly inter-dependent world that we live in, whether it the question of climate change or whether it is a question of managing the global economy, India and the United States must stand tall, must stand shoulder to shoulder."
Of course, Manmohan Singh has already started lobbying for the deal with international leaders. On Tuesday, he met Chinese President Hu Jintao to get a concrete assurance that China will not block India's path at the NSG.
The Indo-US Nuclear Deal would reverse three decades of US policy by allowing the sale of atomic fuel and technology to India, which has not signed international nonproliferation accords but has tested nuclear weapons. In return, India, would open its civilian reactors to international inspections.
US critics worry the agreement could spark a nuclear arms race in Asia and weaken international efforts to prevent states like Iran and North Korea from acquiring nuclear weapons.
In India, critics say it would undermine India's weapons program and give Washington too much influence over Indian foreign policy.
Courtesy : www.ibnlive.com