NEW DELHI, March 3 With the 16th century Purana Qila as his backdrop, US President George W Bush wrapped up his landmark visit to India this evening invoking the 21st century as one where the “world’s oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy” become natural partners to expand the “circle of prosperity” and defeat terror by advancing “human freedom.”

In a speech that began with namaste and ended with “God bless India,” he drew applause several times—when he mentioned how US and India could “transform the world” to how it was exciting to be in Hyderabad, “the hometown of Sania Mirza.”

These flourishes aside, the message of his speech couldn’t have been clearer: the nuclear deal announced yesterday, when implemented, will make India a “global power” and if democracy is its vocation, standing up for freedom “in the darkest corners” should be its profession.

“Men and women from North Korea to Burma to Syria to Zimbabawe to Cuba are fighting for their liberty...Our nations must not pretend that people of these nations prefer enslavement,” he said. “The world is benefited from the example of India’s democracy and the world now requires India’s leadership for its freedom’s cause.”

In this context, Bush singled out Iran where, he said, “a proud people is held hostage by small clerical elite that denies basic liberties, sponsors terrorism and peruses nuclear weapons’’.

In a significant message on the weekend before the crucial IAEA board meeting on reporting Iran to the UNSC, Bush said: ‘‘We (India and US) must stand with reformers and dissidents and civil society organisations, and hasten the day when people of these nations (Iran, North Korea, Myanmar, Syria and Zimbabwe) can determine their own future and choose their leaders.’’

Addressing a select gathering of politicians, top CEOs, officials and the media, Bush placed immense faith in the partnership with India. ‘‘The United States and India, separated by half the globe, are closer than ever before, and the partnership between our free nations has the power to transform the world.’’

The US President touched upon the key facets of this relationship—from nuclear energy, economy, agriculture and technology to combating AIDS and strengthening Indian laws to check trafficking of persons.

He found the space to draw attention to Indian-origin Americans like Kalpana Chawla as he emphasised the contribution being made by the Indian community in the US.

The other area he laid stress was on terrorism linking it to the denial of freedom and democracy. He said the goal of terrorists is to ‘‘impose a hateful vision that denies political and religious freedom’’. Democracies like India and the US, he added, are targeted because they are construed ‘‘weak’’ but this was a misconception, he said. ‘‘They have misunderstood our countries. America and India love freedom, and we will fight to keep it.’’

Bush, who left Delhi soon after the address for Pakistan, said the days when America’s good ties with Pakistan were a concern for India are now gone. ‘‘India is better off because America has a close relationship with Pakistan, and Pakistan is better off because America has a close relationship with India.’’

Tying political freedom to economic freedom, Bush urged India to lift caps on foreign investments and lower tariffs that penalised US markets.

India should be seen as a “land of opportunity” and Americans should not respond to its exploding economy by erecting economic barriers, he said.

On the opposition in the US to outsourcing, Bush pledged “not to give into protectionists” and lose opportunities. “Free and fair trade is good for India, good for America and good for the world...The United States should see India as a land of opportunity instead of a threat,” he said.

N-deal: China wary; UK, France, Japan and IAEA welcome  

• ‘‘The move will set a bad example for other countries as India has refused to sign the NPT.’’ — Xinhua, China

• ‘‘A significant cont-ribution to energy security, development, economic and enviro-nmental objectives for India and the international community, net gain for non-proliferation regime.’’ — British PM Tony Blair

• ‘‘It should be meaningful that India and the US held dialogue and agreed in various areas as India, the US and Japan share the values of freedom, democracy and basic human rights.’’ — Japan govt spokesperson Shinzo Abe

• ‘‘The deal was indispensable to ensure that India had access to civilian nuclear technology to meet its immense energy needs, while limiting its greenhouse gas emission.’’ —French President Jacques Chirac

• ‘‘It’s a good step forward in what’s been a difficult situation.’’ —Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer

• ‘‘A step towards universalisation of the international safeguards regime and will make India an important partner in non-proliferation regime.’’ —IAEA chief Mohd Elbaradei

IN WASHINGTON, ON THE HILL • “He has to get to work and the make the case to Congress, or else the nuclear deal will blow up in his face” — Democratic rep. Gary Ackerman

• “A reliable and dependable strategic partnership is in the interest of both our great countries and this agreement could herald an even closer relationship between US and India.” —Congressman Tom Lantos