By Arun Kumar
Washington, Nov 19 (IANS) In a rare gesture, the US House of Representatives has unanimously adopted a resolution commending the maturing of India-US relations and welcoming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the United States.

The bipartisan House resolution adopted by voice vote Wednesday notes that “the relationship between the United States and India has great potential to promote stability, democracy, prosperity, and peace throughout the world.

Noting that it also has the potential to “enhance the ability of both countries to work together to provide global leadership in areas of mutual concern and interest”, the resolution looks forward to continuing progress in the relationship between the two countries.

Welcoming the prime minister to the US, the resolution commends the maturing of the relationship between the US and India, exemplified by Manmohan Singh’s upcoming state visit.

Manmohan Singh, it notes, “has helped shape India’s economic policies to permit the expansion of a market economy, which has led to greater economic prosperity for India and the growth of a middle class”.

The resolution was sponsored by co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans Democrat Jim McDermott and Republican Ed Royce, and co-sponsored by Gary Ackerman, Democratic Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, and Dan Burton, top Republican on the committee.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee Ileana Ross-Lehtinen, Ackerman and McDermott made statements on the floor of the House.