U.S. President Barack Obama Monday described India as a "world power" and emphasized that the two countries can work together on issues like counter-terrorism to promote peace and stability for the whole world. 

U.S. President Barack Obama (1st L) and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (2nd L) wave to people at the airport in New Delhi Nov. 7, 2010. Barack Obama arrived in the Indian capital on Sunday, the second part of his three-day maiden visit to India. [Partha Sarkar/Xinhua]

U.S. President Barack Obama (1st L) and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (2nd L) wave to people at the airport in New Delhi Nov. 7, 2010. Barack Obama arrived in the Indian capital on Sunday, the second part of his three-day maiden visit to India. [Partha Sarkar/Xinhua]

"Given that India is not simply an emerging power but now it is a world power, U.S. and India can work together to promote international principles, rules, relations between nations they can promote peace, stability, prosperity not only for just two nations but for the whole world," Obama said in a statement to the media here.

The U.S. president asserted that his trip was to bolster what is already an incredible friendship that would be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st Century, to build on commercial ties and strengthen cooperation in bilateral relations and international economy.

"My hope is that during these discussions between myself and prime minister, myself and (Indian) president and other members of the Indian delegation, we will be able to build on commercial ties that we already have to strengthen cooperation in bilateral relations and international economy," he said.

Obama made the statements to the media after a ceremonial reception accorded to him at the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Indian President's House) in the national capital on the third day of his tour to this country.

Earlier, President Obama and U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama were welcomed warmly at the Rashtrapati Bhavan by Indian President Pratibha Patil and her husband Devisingh Patil. They were also greeted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife before given a ceremonial guard of honor.

Obama then left for Rajghat to pay tribute at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi who he considers as his "real hero".

This is the second time for him to pay homage to the founding father of modern India during his India visit, after he visited the Gandhi museum in Mumbai on Saturday.