Hillary Clinton Urges India to Play Larger Role in Asia

"Increasingly, these waters are at the heart of the global economy and a key focus of America's expanding engagement in the region - what we sometimes call our pivot to Asia," Clinton said while referring to the importance of Indian Ocean in the international affairs.

Interestingly, while India figured prominently in Hillary Clinton's speech, China, Australia's largest trading partner, was mentioned briefly.

"We look for ways to support the peaceful rise of China, to support China becoming a responsible stakeholder in the international community," she said.

"And (we) hope to see gradual but consistent opening up of a Chinese society and political system that will more closely give the Chinese people the opportunities that we in the United States and Australia are lucky to take for granted," Clinton added.

The U.S. secretary of state's sentiment on India was shared by her Australian counterparts too.

"I've been an advocate and an arguer of the point of view that India is on the rise, the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean is on the rise," Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith said while addressing a University of Western Australia audience.

U.S. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, meanwhile, met Australia's Defence Minister Stephen Smith and Foreign Minister Bob Carr as a part of the annual Australia-United States Ministerial (AUSMIN) consultations.

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