On Board PM's Special Aircraft:
Keenly looking forward to US President Barack Obama's visit, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the two countries had a common desire to bring about a qualitative change in their bilateral relationship and must explore new commonalities.
Aspects related to the significant visit beginning on November 6 were discussed on Saturday when US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met Singh in Hanoi on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit.
"India-US relations have entered a new phase. There is cordiality, there is understanding," Singh told reporters on his way back home after a seven-day visit to Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam.
"It is our common desire to bring about a qualitative change in our relationship," he said.
Singh noted that the two countries now have strategic partnership and interactions on a range of issues.
"There are many areas where we have interest, which we must explore with the US to find out if there are any commonalities," the Prime Minister said.
During their 40-minute meeting, Singh and Clinton took stock of the bilateral ties and discussed regional matters.
National Security Adviser (NSA) Shivshankar Menon, while briefing on Clinton's meeting with Singh, said that Obama's visit was the main topic of the discussions and both sides were looking forward to the "historic" visit.
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the state of preparations for the visit and bilateral relations.
Menon said this visit would enable the two countries to add more content to the relationship and explore ways of expanding ties in various areas.
During the course of deliberations on the situation in South Asia, Clinton apprised Singh about the recent round of the Strategic Dialogue between US and Pakistan.
Clinton told Singh that the US was determined to continue the goals being pursued in Afghanistan and welcome India's work in that country.
Replying to questions, Menon said India was keen to take forward the civil nuclear initiative with the US and the Department of Atomic Energy was holding "practical" discussions with the US firms on this.
On the US export-control regime related to dual-use items which India wants to be liberalised in its case, the NSA said the two countries have been discussing it since 2005 and Washington has been positive.
"The US agrees that these restrictions need to be brought in line with modern realities," he said while noting that India has high level of export control regime and good record on the nuclear field.
He said no agreement in this regard will be signed during Obama's visit as this issue relates to the American laws.
On US military aid to Pakistan, Menon said the American arms to Pakistan "which are not related to counter-terrorism is an issue."
He said these views have already been conveyed to the US.
Aspects related to the significant visit beginning on November 6 were discussed on Saturday when US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met Singh in Hanoi on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit.
"India-US relations have entered a new phase. There is cordiality, there is understanding," Singh told reporters on his way back home after a seven-day visit to Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam.
"It is our common desire to bring about a qualitative change in our relationship," he said.
Singh noted that the two countries now have strategic partnership and interactions on a range of issues.
"There are many areas where we have interest, which we must explore with the US to find out if there are any commonalities," the Prime Minister said.
During their 40-minute meeting, Singh and Clinton took stock of the bilateral ties and discussed regional matters.
National Security Adviser (NSA) Shivshankar Menon, while briefing on Clinton's meeting with Singh, said that Obama's visit was the main topic of the discussions and both sides were looking forward to the "historic" visit.
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the state of preparations for the visit and bilateral relations.
Menon said this visit would enable the two countries to add more content to the relationship and explore ways of expanding ties in various areas.
During the course of deliberations on the situation in South Asia, Clinton apprised Singh about the recent round of the Strategic Dialogue between US and Pakistan.
Clinton told Singh that the US was determined to continue the goals being pursued in Afghanistan and welcome India's work in that country.
Replying to questions, Menon said India was keen to take forward the civil nuclear initiative with the US and the Department of Atomic Energy was holding "practical" discussions with the US firms on this.
On the US export-control regime related to dual-use items which India wants to be liberalised in its case, the NSA said the two countries have been discussing it since 2005 and Washington has been positive.
"The US agrees that these restrictions need to be brought in line with modern realities," he said while noting that India has high level of export control regime and good record on the nuclear field.
He said no agreement in this regard will be signed during Obama's visit as this issue relates to the American laws.
On US military aid to Pakistan, Menon said the American arms to Pakistan "which are not related to counter-terrorism is an issue."
He said these views have already been conveyed to the US.
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