New Delhi, Oct 30 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday lauded former US president George W. Bush for his “important role” in bringing the civil nuclear deal to fruition and underlined that India was working with other countries to promote civil nuclear cooperation.
“This year we have an opportunity to hear the former president of the United States who is a great friend of India,” Manmohan Singh said at an annual conclave organised by the Hindustan Times.

In his first visit to India after leaving office last year, Bush will be speaking at the conclave on an entire gamut of India-US relations Saturday.

“We in India recognise the important role he played in the fruition of the civil nuclear cooperation initiative,” said Manmohan Singh, who has enjoyed warm relations with the two-time US president.

“We are working with our international partners to give a boost to our nuclear programme,” he said.

Civil nuclear energy, the prime minister said, will contribute to India’s efforts to use cleaner energy and to combat climate change.

Manmohan Singh also paid tributes to iconic Indian nuclear scientist Homi Jehangir Bhabha on the occasion of his birth centenary Friday.

“In concluding the civil nuclear agreement, we sought to realise Dr Bhabha’s dream of tapping the atom for the welfare of our people. It is only fitting we pay tribute to Homi Bhaba’s genius at a leadership summit,” he said.