Breaking new grounds in their bilateral relationship, India and Canada today signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement and strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the first Indian Head of the Government to visit Canada after I K Gujral's trip here 16 years ago, and his counterpart Stephen Harper hailed the signature of the nuclear agreement after their one-on-one and delegation level talks that will provide for cooperation in civil nuclear energy including import of uranium and equipment from Canada.

The civil nuclear agreement was signed by Srikumar Banerjee, secretary, department of atomic energy and Canadian foreign minister Lawrence Cannon in the presence of the two Prime Ministers.

The deal also envisages cooperation in fields of nuclear waste management and radiation safety.

The agreement assumes significance in the context of Canada's strong attitude in the past when it slaped sanctions against India after the Pokhran I and II tests in 1974 and 1998.

A joint statement issued at the end of the meeting said the two Prime Ministers committed themselves to the ratification of the agreement and completion of all remaining steps necessary to ensure its early implementation.

They underscored the potential for mutually beneficial civil nuclear cooperation and trade.