The thrust of the Republicans to build on the partnership with India came out in the party's Platform for 2008, which was unveiled at a scaled-down of a normally boisterous opening day of the party convention at Minnesota.

The party also placed on record its shared commitment with India to political freedom and in the war against terror.

"Representative government can be the foundation for an enduring partnership" between the two countries, the Platform said.

Scaling down of the opening of the Convention was in deference to Americans caught in Hurricane Gustav. While the opening day of the Convention was shorn-off political rhetoric, officials said that normal convention activities would be resumed today with a keynote address by New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.