Sunday, July 17 2005 16:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Frankfurt: After an overnight halt in Frankfurt, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (July 17, 2005) left for Washington where he will seek a new era of engagement with the US on issues of mutual interest, having made it clear that India was not a "supplicant" but an independent power.

Singh meets US President George W Bush tomorrow (July 18, 2005) at the White House where a red carpet welcome awaits him with a reception that will reflect New Delhi's importance in Washington's scheme of things.

Terrorism, energy dialogue comprising cooperation in civilian nuclear energy, comprehensive review of bilateral relations including accelerated cooperation relating to trade, investment and technology collaboration will come up in Singh's discussions with Bush.

The focus of the trip would be on the economic dialogue for which a newly-set up CEO's forum, which includes select industrialists from both the countries, would be meeting during the visit.

On the eve of his departure, Singh indicated in an interview to The New York Times that India would persuade the US to share more of its nuclear technology and hoped that both countries would move from being "estranged" to "engaged" on issues of mutual interest.

"We are an independent power, we are not a client state, we are not a supplicant," Singh said. "As two equal societies, we should explore together where there is convergence of interests and work together."

Dismissing the idea that India could work as a bulwark against China, Singh said, "I think a strong India is in the interests of Asia and I think in the interests of the world, but that doesn't mean we are in competition with China."

"I don't think our relationship with the United States is at the cost of our relationships with China, with Russia or, for that matter, the EU," he said.

The Prime Minister described India as a unique social experiment based on an "open society and an open economy."

About the issue of nuclear technology, the Prime Minister said President Bush himself has mentioned to him that a country like India needed to be helped to reach its full potential in the area of nuclear energy.

On what he expected from the visit, Singh said, "It's much too presumptuous on my part to say that I can predict outcome, but I am looking forward, with hope, that out of this visit we will have a stronger, more durable, more productive relationship with the United States."

"People have described in the past our two countries' relations as two estranged democracies," Singh said. "I would like to work towards a new era where our two democracies are engaged."

Describing the upcoming Singh-Bush meeting as a "historic step forward," a senior US official said, "We are very, very close now to completion of the NSSP (Next Steps in Strategic Partnership). That is why Monday's visit is so important.

"Our interests coincide more than ever before. That is one of the reasons why we have this emerging relationship at several levels."

The official said Bush and Singh had a very strong personal relationship and the US will accord Singh the full honour of a State visit with Indian flags decorating streets of Washington.

All of this," said the official, "is meant to do one thing, convey a sense of respect for India, convey a sense of hope for the relationship and a signal that this relationship is one of the most important relationships that the United States has with any country."