US will take nuke deal forward, says Clinton

Terming the nuclear deal as a "landmark agreement" for both the countries, she said the Obama administration is fully committed to implement the civil nuclear pact.

The agreement carries a strong bipartisan support in both India and the US, Clinton said addressing a meeting of Indian and US corporate leaders at the Synergies Summit of the US India Business Council.

"This second stage in our (US India) history continued through the last US and Indian administrations and culminated in completion of the Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement, this past October, under the Bush administration," Clinton said.

"This landmark accord, which the Obama administration is fully committed to implementing, provides a framework for economic and technical cooperation, between our two countries, and allows us to move beyond our concerns about the status of India's nuclear program, an issue that dominated our relationship for much of the last decade," Clinton said.

The nuclear deal, which was completed through the efforts of former US President Bush, Clinton said removed the final barrier to broader cooperation between the two countries. "That brings us to today," she said.

"After the Cold War ended, President (Bill) Clinton opened a new chapter of engagement with India," Clinton said.

"Talks between former Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott and his Indian counterpart helped to establish a new foundation for our relationship. And of course, my husband and daughter had an extraordinary visit toward the end of his term in office," Clinton said.

The Secretary of State termed the Indo-US nuclear deal as the second era and said the Obama administration is determined to take it to the third stage.