Singh will meet Bush on Wednesday morning, but before that he will meet Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday. Beijing’s approach will be critical to India’s plans. On his way back from Beijing after a bilateral visit in January, the PM had said: “When the issue (nuclear deal) does come before the relevant agency, I don’t think China will be an obstacle though I cannot say I have that assurance today.”

Singh will make the bid to win that elusive assurance from China which had attempted to float a proposal in the NSG for a criteria-based approach on conducting civil nuclear cooperation with the three countries outside the NPT. However, the US is backing a special exemption only for India.