India and the United States on Friday agreed to discuss a 'new umbrella' India-US Science and Technology Agreement and resolved to expand cooperation in developing and commercialising cleaner and more efficient energy technologies.

Both sides felt that the India-US Science and Technology Forum, established in 2000, should be an 'important instrument' acting as a catalyst for scientific collaboration.

A decision to this effect was taken at a five-day meeting between an American delegation led by Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, International Environment and Scientific Affairs, John Turner and an Indian inter-ministerial team headed by Joint Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry Deepa Wadhwa, official sources said.

This meeting was held under the aegis of the Global Issues Forum set up in February last year by Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal and US Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky.

The present meeting focused on a cluster of issues like energy, environment, health and science and technology.

The two countries also agreed to continue long-term cooperation in conservation and restoration of critical wildlife resources.

They also agreed to intensify cooperation in prevention, control and elimination of infectious diseases including AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, polio and waterborne ailments, through appropriate intervention strategies.