Mumbai: The Indo-US strategic cooperation would continue with the re-election of President George W Bush and the relations between the two countries, which is running at an all time high, will have an extraordinary blossoming in various fields, US Ambassador David C Mulford said today (Nov 4, 2004).

President Bush considers India as a key strategic partner and "the best is yet to come" in the relations between the two countries, he said at an impromptu press conference in Mumbai.

Mulford was in the city to attend a meeting organised by International Institute of Finance, where he was the keynote speaker.

On sanctions imposed by US in the wake of Pokhran-II nuclear tests, he said, "US does not have sanctions and Indian Government is an able manager in the case of nuclear issues -- in terms of non-proliferation." Commenting on the Indo-US strategic partnership, he said, "We have already completed the first phase of strategic cooperation with India in civilian space and military areas including high-tech commerce, missile and other defence technologies."

The cooperation is in a phased manner and is being carried out without violating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations, he said.

On sanctions imposed by the US on two Indian scientists, Mulford said, these were "minor irritants" and "we should not allow it to cause problem between the countries."

On President Bush visiting India, the Ambassador said Bush had expressed his interest.