PM to talk N-deal with Bush at G-8

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is off to Germany on Wednesday to attend the G-8 summit in Heiligendamm.

The PM will meet US President George W Bush on the sidelines of the three-day summit on Friday.

The two leaders are expected to discuss the Indo-US nuclear deal. India is not a member of the G-8.

Although there would be no detailed discussion on the issue between the two leaders, the meeting would be significant as the two sides are looking for a political push at the highest level to break the logjam in the talks on 123 Agreement to operationalise the nuclear deal.

The main topic that will dominate the G-8 summit, though, will be climate change. As a developing nation, India may try to walk a tightrope on the issue.

With the West blaming developing countries for climate change, Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said he will emphasise the need for a collective responsibility between the developed and developing world to preserve environment at the G-8 Summit.

"At the Summit, I will speak on issues related to climate change. I will emphasise the need not to lose sight of the fundamental and universally accepted principle of common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities between developed and developing world," he said.

"It is also the fact that more and not less development is the best way for developing countries to address themselves to the issue of preserving environment and protecting the climate," he added.

India is likely to advocate reduction of carbon emissions, but may not commit to any binding targets.

Besides the G-8 meet, the Prime Minister will attend the Summit of five Outreach countries from the developing world -- Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa.

(With inputs from PTI)