New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) Even as a crucial reprocessing pact is being finalised, the US Friday said it hoped to complete the landmark nuclear agreement with India soon and described the atomic pact as a “strategic win-win for both countries”.
Welcoming the visit of a high-profile delegation of top US nuclear companies to India, US Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer said it underscored the commitment US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made in Washington for the two countries to “realise the full potential and aspirations of landmark civilian nuclear agreement”.

“We hope to complete this landmark agreement soon,” he said.

Linking the India-US nuclear pact with the ongoing international climate change negotiations, the US envoy stressed that this agreement would “lead to the development of important clean energy alternatives and greater access to affordable energy for the people of India, while creating jobs and economic opportunities for the citizens of both our countries”.

“It is a strategic win-win for both countries,” he underlined while calling for the cementing of “a global and enduring partnership” between the two countries.

GE Hitachi and Westinghouse were among top American nuclear engineering companies from the US who visited India this week and held talks with top Indian nuclear officials and companies.

The two sides were close to clinching a pact on reprocessing spent fuel during the visit of Manmohan Singh to Washington last month, but could not do so due to minor differences in the language of the text.

The two sides are trying to bridge the differences and are expected to finalise the pact soon.