Concerns were heightened after Rice said in February that changes in the NSG guidelines will have to be 'completely consistent with the obligations of the Hyde Act'. She had said that Washington would not support India's case if it was contrary to the Hyde Act.
The US government has maintained, however, that India would not be bound by the Hyde Act, which contains some 'prescriptive and extraneous elements'.
New Delhi has argued vehemently that India's rights and obligations on civil nuclear cooperation came only from the 123 Agreement.
Monday's meeting was devoted to regional affairs, Rice said, adding discussions would continue over dinner. "We have a lot more to talk about," she said.
Mukherjee complemented Rice for transforming Indo-US relations, and spoke of growing bilateral relations in the realm of trade, agriculture and science and technology. There is also 'momentum in defence ties and peaceful exploration of outer space,' Mukherjee said.
"We agreed to maintain the positive momentum," he said, in reference to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to the US and President George W Bush's India visit.
Mukherjee also called for closer working relations between the External Affairs Ministry and the US State Department.
Image: Mukherjee and Rice during a joint press conference at the US State Department in Washington DC on Monday.
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