NEW DELHI, March 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Progress has been made with regard to the nuclear deal during a telephone conversation between Indian and the U.S. security advisors Wednesday morning, New Delhi Television (NDTV) reported.

    Indian Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan spoke with his U.S. counterpart Stephen Hadley on the phone Wednesday morning ahead of U.S. President George W. Bush's visit to India Wednesday evening.

    Meanwhile, the television reported that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in New Delhi that Bush's endeavor on the nuclear deal would help India out of isolation in its nuclear programs.

    The Prime Minister said that India recognizes the fact that the deal needs to be passed by the U.S. Congress.

    Meanwhile, it is also reported that the Prime Minister will personally receive Bush at the New Delhi airport Wednesday evening.

    NDTV also reported that the government was hopeful that the deal would be clinched even as some details will remain to be worked out later.

    Meanwhile, news website dnaindia.com reported Wednesday that White House spokesman Scott McClellan said ahead of Bush's India visit that the deal would eventually be clinched with India on nuclear cooperation.

    McClellan said the deal would "get done" even if it was not finalized during President Bush's maiden trip to India starting Wednesday.

    "First of all, our relationship with India is much broader than the civilian nuclear program that we are talking about," the website quoted McClellan as saying.

    "There has been some progress that has been made in those negotiations. Whether or not it gets done during the trip -- before the trip or after the trip, we will have to see. But we believe it will get done. It's an important agreement," he added.

    McClellan said: "This will not only address energy needs for India which is important. But it will also help bring India into a better situation when it comes to any concerns about proliferation issues," he said. Enditem