WASHINGTON: India said that it expected the US to lift “significant” restrictions on American technology transfer to the Asian giant following talks between leaders of the two nations.

US President Barack Obama and Indian PM Manmohan Singh agreed after talks here on Tuesday that “strengthening high technology trade between their countries is in the spirit of their strategic dialogue and partnership”.

Expanding on the statement, Singh’s economic advisor Montek Singh Ahluwalia said yesterday that on the economic front, “the principal action” the United States had to take to advance collaboration was “removal of the technology transfer controls.” He said the US government had assured India that a “high level review” of the technology restrictions was underway.

“We are very hopeful that as a result of that review there will be a significant easing of technology controls,” said Ahluwalia.