Washington, July 18 - The US says it wants India as a global power to play a bigger role for regional stability, regional security and economic development as also in finding a global solution to climate change.

'India is a global power,' Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Philip J. Crowley told reporters Friday as Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton arrived in India for her first visit to the country as America's chief diplomat.

'As the Secretary reflected earlier this week and will certainly do so when she is in India, there is an opportunity to expand the areas of cooperation,' he said when asked what global role Clinton sees for India.

'We want to see India continue to increase its role in terms of regional stability, regional security, economic development in the region,' Crowley said noting that recently 'India has played a very constructive role in helping the United States and others in terms of conflict resolution.'

Similarly, the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yusuf Raza Gilani in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt and their statement in terms of cooperation on terrorism were 'vitally important to stability in the region,' he said.

While he could not detail the types of things Clinton will discuss with Indian leaders, Crowley said, 'We happen to believe that the world's largest democracy and the world's oldest democracy share a great deal in common and can only expand, deepen, their relationship going forward.