'US sees good response for N-deal'

The White House said there is good bipartisan response from members of Congress about moving forward on it.

Describing the nuclear deal with India as an "important" agreement that will help strengthen the bilateral strategic relationship, the US has said there is "good bipartisan response" from members of Congress about moving forward on it.

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"I think there's been good bipartisan response from members of Congress about moving forward on this agreement with India. It is an approach that is based on addressing the realities we face. And it's an important agreement," White House Spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters here.

"It'll help strengthen our strategic relationship, but it's an agreement that will help us when it comes to meeting energy needs in the future (of India and the US). And it, for the first time, will bring ...India into compliance with non-proliferation agreements for its civilian nuclear programme. So that's an important aspect of it as well."

However, McClellan would not comment on whether the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal will come up for discussion between President George W Bush and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao later this week when the leader of the Communist nation will be here on an official visit.

"There are also a number of differences that we have. But I think this is a relationship that has moved forward and matured to a point where we can speak openly and candidly about those disagreements," the spokesman said.