New Delhi, Sept 18, SPA -- The United States has lifted export curbs on equipment for India's nuclear facilities and liberalizedhigh-technology trade, just days before a meeting betweenleaders from the two countries, a government statement saidSaturday. The two sides spent months working out how to implement anagreement reached in January to lift U.S. restrictions onIndia's space program, allowing technology transfers andcooperation between NASA and the Indian Space ResearchOrganization that were halted in the wake of New Delhi's1998 nuclear tests. The details were worked out during talks between India'sForeign Secretary Shyam Saran and senior U.S. StateDepartment officials in Washington on Friday, the statementsaid. The agreement represents "major progress in the strategicpartnership" between the United States and India, thestatement said, adding that it would "lead to significanteconomic benefits for both countries and improve regionaland global security." Saran described the agreement as "very important," andsaid the next round of talks between the countries wouldfocus on nuclear power generation.--SPA1409 Local Time 1109 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/202700