New Delhi: The US is going to ease some of its licensing practices for India on hi-technology commerce and some other areas, US Under Secretary of State Kenneth Juster said tonight (Jan 16, 2004). "We are going to be easing some of our licening practice for India," Juster said while observing that no one was questioning the record of India in the area of non-proliferation. Describing the recent statements by US President George W Bush and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as "important", he told Doordarshan it was a "major signal" in the transformation of Indo-US relations. "This is a milestone in the process". Both countries agreed to expand cooperation in civilian nuclear activities, civilian space programmes and high-technology trade besides deciding to expand their dialogue on missile defence.