Wednesday, June 1 2005 10:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: India and US have launched a new bilateral dialogue on energy, which envisages setting up working groups focussing on, among other things, clean coal technology.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and US Secretary for Energy, Samuel W Bodman met in Washington yesterday (May 31, 2005) to launch a new bilateral 'India-US Energy Dialogue.'

"The establishment of the dialogue reflects the transformed strategic relationship between the US and India as called for by President George W Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Secretary Bodman and Dr Ahluwalia agreed that it was important to show progress in the Energy Dialogue before the US visit of Prime Minister Singh," said a joint statement issued after the meeting.

On the issue of nuclear energy, the statement laid out the tasks of working groups, including dialogue and action on issues associated with civilian uses of nuclear energy and its control.

Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and US Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, David Garman, will co-chair the Steering Committee supervising the five working groups.

Together, they will promote increased trade and investment in the energy sector to strengthen mutual energy security and promote stable energy markets to ensure adequate supplies, the statement said.

The first meetings of the working groups are expected to take place prior to the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the United States.