US President George W Bush has defended the civilian nuclear energy arrangement with India, saying it is a "good policy" for America to encourage emerging economies to use clean energy like nuclear power.

Bush further said that he was going to talk to emerging economies about developind a civilian nuclear power industry.

The India-US nuclear tango

The President, who is visiting India from March 1-3, said the deal was in the interest of the United States, adding US "got to get off of hydrocarbons. We just do. And I'm a believer in nuclear power".

Speaking on the issues concerning spent fuel, Bush said he was convinced that the US can work internationally to address those issues.