New Delhi, May 24 -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday described India as a "key partnership for the 21st century" amid evolving global challenges and opportunities, stating that his four-day visit to the country is intended to further reinforce bilateral ties between the two democracies.

Speaking at the US Embassy in Delhi to commemorate the 250th Independence Day celebrations of the United States, Rubio underlined the growing strategic convergence between India and the US and said both nations are well-positioned to work together on critical issues shaping the modern global economy.

"We're also proud because we know that so much of what we've achieved in our history has been built in partnership with other countries around t...