Bush signs US-India nuclear deal
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President George W Bush has signed legislation that will allow the United States and India to open up nuclear trade, saying the two countries are "natural partners."
His action will pave the way for the details of the agreement to be signed by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Washington on Friday (local time).
"This agreement sends a signal to the world: nations that follow the path to democracy and responsible behavior will find a friend in the United States of America," Mr Bush said before he signed the agreement into law.
The pact will provide India with access to US nuclear fuel, reactors and technology, overturning a ban on such trade instituted after India first conducted a nuclear test in 1974.
The India-US deal could open up around $US27 billion ($40 billion) in investment in 18 to 20 nuclear plants in India over the next 15 years, according to the Confederation of Indian Industry.
"Even though the United States and India are separated by half the globe, we are natural partners as we head into the 21st century," Mr Bush said.
- Reuters
