PM meets Bush, discusses nuclear deal

TOYAKO: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday met US President George W Bush on the sidelines of the G8 summit in Toyako in northern Japan. ( Watch )

The meeting, that began 7.40 am local time, was held at Hotel Windsor Toya. The prime minister drove two hours from Sapporo, through mist-laden mountains and a lush green country landscape, to meet the American leader.

"I am very pleased with the state of our relationship," Singh told reporters after the meeting. "Our relationship with the United States has never been in such good shape as it is today," he added. Singh also said that India and the US 'must stand shoulder to shoulder' on pressing issues.

Speaking after the meeting, US President Bush said that he and the prime minister talked about the nuclear deal and 'how important it is for our respective countries'. He added that the deal to sell India nuclear fuel and technology is good for both nations, even though it has drawn fire in both countries. He also congratulated the Singh for his leadership. The India-US nuclear deal has already caused a rupture in the ruling UPA figured high in the discussions.

The government is expected to go through several mandatory procedures with the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) before the deal, in the making for three years, goes to Washington for a presidential determination and Congressional endorsement of the 123 bilateral enabling agreement.

PM Singh will return to New Delhi on Wednesday night.

(The times of India dt. 9.7.08)