Kerry, who arrived in India on January 11, held talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The two leaders discussed the ongoing bilateral talks on civilian nuclear cooperation among various facets of bilateral relation.

The visit of Kerry, who came close to being elected as US President last year, assumed significance as it took place as the Bush Administration was preparing to approach the US Congress for ratification of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Washington visit in July 2005.

Kerry has been a votary of stronger Indo-US relations and during his presidential campaign had emphasised the need for making "genuine improvement" in Next Step in Strategic Partnership besides the whole range of economic and technological issues.

In Picture: US Senator and former Democrat presidential candidate John Kerry with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
Photograph : Raveendran/AFP/Getty Images

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