Washington: Urging all the non-democratic countries of the world to embrace the rule of the people, United States President George W Bush cited the example of India to reject the argument that some nations are not fit for it.

"74 years ago, 'The Sunday Times' declared nine-tenths of the population of India to be 'illiterates not caring a fig for politics.' Yet when Indian democracy was imperiled in the 1970s, the people showed their commitment to liberty in a national referendum that saved their form of Government," Bush said.

In an address on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the National Endowment for Democracy at the US Chamber of Commerce, Bush said, time after time, observers have questioned whether this country or that people or this group, are "ready" for democracy, as if freedom were a prize you to win for meeting our own Western standards of progress.

The US commitment to democracy is tested in the Middle East and China, Bush said.

"Our commitment to democracy is tested in China. That nation now has a sliver, a fragment of liberty. Yet, China's people will eventually want their liberty pure and whole. China has discovered that economic freedom leads to national wealth. China's leaders will also discover that freedom is indivisible, that social and religious freedom is also essential to national greatness and national dignity.

PTI