China And India Finalize On Nuke Deal

China and India are poised to sign a civilian nuclear cooperation deal during President Hu Jintao's four-day state visit to the South Asian giant that begins today, Indian officials said yesterday, similar to the recent agreement between the United States and India.

The deal would foster the exchange and purchase of nuclear technology between the two emerging Asian powers, and is expected to be announced in a joint statement at the end of Hu's visit on Thursday, according to two officials familiar with the impending accord who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Chinese nuclear specialists are in India conducting meetings with Indian counterparts, one of the officials said.

While the exact terms of the potential China-India nuclear agreement have not been finalized, they are expected to be similar to the terms of the civilian nuclear agreement India concluded with the United States on July 18 last year, when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India visited Washington.