Thursday, March 2 2006 10:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Here to clinch a crucial nuclear deal, US President George W Bush today(Mar 2,2006) said he was looking forward to fostering 'a very important relationship' with India but parried questions on a possible deal.

"I am looking forward to working with President and the Prime Minister to foster a very important relationship," Bush said after he was accorded a grand ceremonial welcome in the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan here this morning marking the formal start of his visit.

Asked how confident he was about clinching a nuclear deal, he merely said "We have a press conference later on."

Obviously impressed by the red carpet welcome and the ceremonial guard of honour by the armed forces which he had inspected moments earlier, Bush said, "It is an honour to be here. I have never been to India before. I have been looking forward to this trip for a long time."

"I must say that I have been received in many capitals of the world. I have never seen a reception as well organised and as grand as the reception we just received. Coming up to this majestic building was breathtaking and the horses that led us in added great elegance to the welcoming ceremony," he said thanking President Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh profusely for the visit and the grand reception.

He had a word of praise for the weather saying it was 'beautiful'.

Bush and Laura, who arrived here last night on a three-day visit, were received by Kalam and Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur as the cavalcade of bullet-proof cars reached the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

As guns boomed with national anthems of both countries being played by a three services brass band, the US leader walked up for the guard of honour and inspected it.

Bush was then introduced by the Prime Minister to the key members of his Council of Ministers which included Pranab Mukherjee, Shivraj Patil, P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal, National Security Adviser M K Narayanan and the three service chiefs.

The US President was on his part accompanied by his Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns and Ambassador to India David Mulford.

After the ceremonial reception, Bush left for Mahatma Gandhi's samadhi at Rajghat amidst an unprecedented security cover.