Washington, July 17 - As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton left on a much awaited trip to India, the US again stressed the importance it placed on the role India can play not just in the region, but as a global player.

Clinton's series of meetings with current and former officials, lawmakers and think tanks in the run up to the visit is 'an indication of the importance that Secretary Clinton and the administration, in general, places on our relationship with India, with the world's largest democracy,' State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly said Thursday.

'And I think we want to really look forward and look at this relationship as something that can be very constructive in the kind of role that India can play not just in the region, but as a global player,' he said.

'Clinton is genuinely excited about this trip and is really looking forward to spending a lot of time in India, three full days,' said Kelly who would be accompanying her on the trip.

The US also hoped to conclude some bilateral agreements during the trip, Kelly said. But 'for the first two days, it's going to be almost entirely people-to-people type activities, which she, of course, enjoys very much and puts a lot of importance on.