NEW DELHI, Jan. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- India and the United States concluded the first civil nuclear working group workshop Thursday in Indian economic hub Mumbai, Indo-Asian News Service reported.

    Nuclear experts from the two countries discussed issues of operating nuclear facilities, including safety, emergency response,security, physical protection and current practices for safeguarding such facilities, said an official statement released by the U.S. delegation.

    The production and use of medical isotopes, research in areas like fusion energy, high-energy physics, and nuclear physics were also discussed, the statement said.

    "These discussions are an important step in establishing a foundation for cooperation on civil use of nuclear energy," said R.Shane Johnson, acting director of the U.S. Energy Department's Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology.

    Johnson led the U.S. delegation to the four-day workshop while R.B. Grover, director of the Strategic Planning Group of the Department of Atomic Energy, led the Indian side.

    The two sides decided to conduct another session in the United States later this year.

    India signed a joint statement with the United States on carrying out full cooperation in civilian use of nuclear in July last year, when Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Washington. Enditem