Washington: Expansion of Indo-US trade and commerce, particularly in high-technology commerce, including in the area of dual use technology, is crucial for strengthening bilateral ties, prominent Republican Senator Sam Brownback has said.

In letters to the US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Commerce Secretary Donald L Evans, the Senator said, "Given the highly encouraging and productive upward path of our bilateral relations in recent years and India's solid record on not transferring sensitive technology, enforcing export controls, we believe it is most appropriate and important that discussion on increasing trade in certain dual use goods and technologies are moving to a higher and more intensive level."

It is important for the two countries to recognise not only the common strategic interests that the two countries share, but also to take into account the changes in the technologies themselves that may render previously enacted controls obsolete or in need of revision, he said.

"In so doing, we will need to develop sound new policies for trade in dual use item, which fully protect our national security and our anti-proliferation objectives," he said.

Brownback recalled that US President George W Bush and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, during their November 2001 meeting, agreed to work on ways to stimulate trade in high technology as a vital component of the two countries' commitment to transform Indo-American bilateral relations.

Strongly supporting the ongoing process initiated by the Department of Commerce on high technology commerce, he said, "We look forward to an active role for the India- US high technology co-operation group created at the end of the November 2002 meeting."

"We are encouraged by the pledge both sides made to 'think boldly and creatively' in this area," he added.

The ongoing technical co-operation programme will help establish a modernised regulatory framework with jointly agreed upon principles governing bilateral co- operation in this high technology trade, Brownback said.

"This initiative is fully consonant with the US policy to strengthen relations in all areas with Democratic India," he added.

"The Indo-US partnership represents a unique opportunity for the world's two largest Democracies, who share many common interests, to work together to bring greater stability, security and economic opportunities to Asia and the world," the Senator said.

Even at recent meetings between Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal and US Under Secretary of Commerce Kenneth Juster, the two sides agreed to take steps to promote and facilitate trade in dual use goods and technologies.

This will be done by addressing systemic barriers to such trade, generating market awareness, conducting industry outreach programmes, reviewing policies and processes on export of dual use goods and technologies to India, and pursuing export control cooperation, an Indian Embassy statement had said.

PTI