Wednesday, July 20 2005 14:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: House of Representatives Leader Tom DeLay met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and said his visit to the United States was a symbol of strong and vibrant relations between India and America.

"His visit to the US, and to this House in particular, is a symbol of strong and vibrant relations between our two nations, the oldest and largest democracies on earth," DeLay, a Republican, said yesterday (July 19, 2005).

"But the relationship is more than symbolic. It is the natural alliance between democratic nations which value freedom, and will defend their people from tyranny and terror," he said.

India has become a valued trading partner of the US and a trusted ally in the global war on terror, DeLay said.

"Internationally, the Indian people, together with Pakistan , in recent years have sought peaceful solutions to their differences, setting aside decades of open hostility.

"And here at home, Indian-Americans have enriched our national culture by introducing generations of Americans to philosophical, religious and social traditions of their homeland," he said.

Republican Congressman and past Chairman of India, Caucus Joe Wilson heaped praise on Singh for his address to a joint session of the US Congress.

Singh eloquently expressed that Americans and Indians have much in common, Wilson said adding, "our nations face challenges of national security in the war on terror and share a deep passion for democracy."

"As the bonds of cooperation between America, the oldest democracy, and India, the largest democracy, grow stronger, our relationship has never been better," he said.