Prime Minister Manmohan Singh broke protocol to receive Bush at the airport with a bouquet of roses in the latter’s favourite colours, yellow and orange.
NEW DELHI: Last-minute negotiations on the nuclear deal continued as US President George Bush’s Air Force One jet touched down in New Delhi this evening. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh broke protocol to receive Bush at the airport with a bouquet of roses in the latter’s favourite colours, yellow and orange. Bush was accompanied by wife Laura and key administration officials, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadlee, and Trade Representative Rob Coatman.
The Prime Minister went straight from a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs to receive Bush. The CCPA, the apex political decision-making body of the Cabinet, met on Wednesday evening to arm Singh with the necessary authority for his talks with the US President on Friday morning.
The two leaders will have a one-on-one meeting for 30 minutes at Hyderabad House before the formal delegation-level talks. If the Washington pattern, which led to the July 18 joint statement, repeats itself on Friday, the “big bang” nuclear deal will be sealed at this closed door meeting.
The huge change in Indo-US relations can be judged from the fact that this is the second visit by a US President in this decade. Former President Bill Clinton’s 2000 trip marked a qualitative shift in bilateral ties. The less charismatic Bush brings with him substance to shape the contours of a new, emerging relationship.
The much-awaited nuclear deal, if it comes through, will be the centrepiece of the visit. But a host of other agreements in areas as diverse as agriculture, science and technology, energy, and space will be announced.
The two sides hope the visit will give a fillip to economic ties with the Indo-US CEOs’ Forum submitting its report to the PM and Bush on Friday morning. The report has identified key focus areas to boost investment and trade.
WHAT'S ON THE TABLE
Nuke energy
Declaration on civil nuclear technology. India will have access to US nuclear fuel.
Power
Deal on coal, oil and gas, tech transfer for clean power generation and renewable energy.
Space
Deal on putting US scientific payload on India's moon mission, Chandrayan-I.
Business
Collaboration in finance, biotech, IT, infrastructure by the Indo-US CEO’s forum.
Agriculture
Deal on agri research and marketing systems, and use of new technologies.
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