Describing India as a country on the move, US Secretary of State John Kerry Saturday said that during talks with External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid both agreed to move forward with high-level dialogues and remain committed to the "indispensable" US-India partnership.

 

 Extending congratulations to India for Republic Day on behalf of President Barack Obama and the people of US, Kerry said, "The real magic of India lies as much in its promising future as it does in its rich heritage."

 

 He added that he would never forget his first visit to India nearly 20 years ago on a US Senate Congressional trade delegation. "The dynamism I saw then continues today. India is a country on the move".

 

 "Beneath all the changes – and what really binds our nations and our peoples together – is our shared commitment to a strong and vibrant democratic heritage. India's transition to democratic independence and emergence on the world stage was one of the great success stories of the 20th century. Today, it is an inspiration for so many young democracies," he said in a message, according to a US Department of State statement.

 

 He said when he spoke with Khurshid in Montreaux earlier this week "we agreed that both our peoples benefit when the world's largest and oldest democracies work closely together". 

 

 "External Affairs Minister Khurshid and I affirmed that we are eager to move forward with our high-level dialogues and exchanges soon, and that our countries remain firmly committed to the indispensable US-India partnership".

 

 "On this special day, I offer our congratulations to the Indian people and warmest wishes for continued prosperity and peace," the US Secretary of State was quoted as saying in the statement.