Washington: With just two weeks left for a crucial climate change meeting in Copenhagen, India and US made "progress" on the issue and agreed on the need for a "substantive and comprehensive outcome, which would cover mitigation, adaptation, finance and technology".

"Both President (Barack) Obama and I have agreed on the need for a substantive and comprehensive outcome, which would cover mitigation, adaptation, finance and technology," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in Washington on Tuesday.

The prime minister, who was speaking at a press conference alongside President Obama in the White House, said: "We reaffirmed our intention to work to this end, bilaterally and with all other countries."

On his part, Obama said that it's essential that all countries do what is necessary to reach a strong operational agreement that will confront the threat of climate change while serving as a stepping-stone to a legally binding treaty.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Obama have agreed to enter into a Green Partnership to address global challenges of sustainable development and a clean energy future

The two leaders agreed to launch a Clean Energy and Climate Change Initiative to make technologies that make our energy cleaner, affordable and more efficient, accessible to all.

Obama and Dr Singh also announced a Framework for Cooperation on Trade and Investment, which will promote inclusive growth and job creation, support opportunities for increased trade and investment.

The L'Aquila Food Security Initiative has been agreed upon to promote collaborative research for increasing food productivity.
 
President Obama and Prime Minister Singh also launched the Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative with funding from both sides to increase university linkages. (With PTI inputs)