Replying to a four-hour debate in Lok Sabha on his recent visit to the US where he clinched a deal with President George W Bush on bilateral civilian nuclear cooperation, Singh said India would remain engaged with China as "we see new horizons in our relations with China."

"What we have done with the US is not at the cost of China or any other country", he said, seeking to dispel apprehensions voiced by Left parties and BJP-led opposition on the fall-out of Indo-US civilian nuclear deal.

"I want to dispel illusions. We are not ganging up against any country, last of all China", the Prime Minister said and added "this is not a military alliance or an alliance against any country".

Rebutting the opposition criticism that India has compromised on its strategic autonomy in nuclear weapons programme, Singh said, "there is nothing in the (Indo-US) Joint Statement, which should convey that we compromised our autonomy in managing our nuclear assets".

Making a point-by-point response to his predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee's criticism of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, Singh said the deal was signed only after clearance from the Indian Atomic Energy Commission Chairman who was part of his delegation that had gone to the US.

In a pointed reference to Vajpayee's criticism of India's commitment in the joint statement to separate its civilian and military nuclear facilities, Singh said the Indian Atomic Energy establishment had agreed that such separation was feasible.