Washington: Describing Indo-American relations as the "best ever" during the past few years, Indian Ambassador Lalit Mansingh has said the ties have moved forward from the political and economic sphere to a strategic arena.

The change in Indo-US relations began when the then US President Bill Clinton's visited India and President George W Bush has carried it forward, Mansingh said at a farewell reception at the Indian embassy.

In the past, he said, India has had political and economic relations with the US but now it has extended to strategic and other areas.

He also pointed out that the India Caucus in the House of Representatives, with 185 members, is the largest, and now there is also a similar body in the Senate.

On the military-to-military relationship between India and the US, he noted there have been eight joint military exercises already and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Richard Myers, who stayed for a long time at the reception, visited India twice.

For the first 50 years of the Indo-American relationship, there had just been one such visit by the head of the US Armed forces, the Ambassador noted.

Speaking on the occasion, Gen. Myers said close Indo-US relations are important for global stability.

He expressed happiness that there is now a close military-to-military relationship between the Armed forces of the two countries.

Democratic Senator Paul Sarbanes from Maryland said Mansingh has "contributed tremendously" in helping to develop good relations between the two countries."

On the impact of the Indian American community, he pointed out that the majority leader in the Maryland legislator is an Indian American, Kumar Barve.

Mayor Anthony Williams praised Mansingh for establishing a close relationship with his office.

The reception was attended by US diplomats, State Department officials, former US Ambassadors to India, Senators and Congressmen.