Refusing to allow the political crisis back home to upset his schedules at the G8 summit, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday met US President George Bush and the two leaders declared that the controversial nuclear deal was "important for both the countries."

Singh, who drove for two hours early in the morning through the picturesque Hokkaido to meet Bush at the hot spring resort of Hotel Windsor on Mount Poromoi, remarked that he was satisfied with the state of bilateral relationship which has “truly acquired the characteristics of a genuine strategic partnership.”

  Both were in a relaxed mood and displayed lot of personal warmth as Bush remarked: “Prime Minister Singh and I had a typical conversation among friends. We talked about common opportunities, world problems, and we did it in a spirit of respect. It was easy for me to do because I respect the Prime Minister a lot. I also respect India a lot. All in all, it was a good conversation between friends.”

The Prime Minister did not refer at length to the nuclear deal which has now put India through a political crisis and reduced his Government to virtual minority. Bush remarked that it was very important that the US continued to work with “our friend” to develop not only a new strategic relationship, but a relationship that addresses some of the world’s problems.
 

The PM said: “It is the intention of my Government as I believe it is also the will of the Indian people, particularly the thinking sessions of the people,  that in this increasingly inter-dependent world that we live in whether it is the question of climate change and global economy, India and US must stand tall and work together shoulder to shoulder. That is what is going to be.