Congratulating Manmohan Singh [Images] on his second term as the Prime Minister of India, United States President Barack Obama [Images] today said Singh is a "very wise leader" whom he respects and is looking forward to visit New Delhi [Images] at an early date.

Obama told this to the new Indian Ambassador [Images] to the US, Meera Shankar, at his Oval Office in the White House. Shankar presented her credentials to the US President as the top Indian diplomat in the US.

During the brief credential ceremony, Obama conveyed his felicitations on the recent elections in India. He said that Singh is a very wise leader whom he respects. Obama said he is looking forward to visiting India at an early date.

Shankar conveyed the greetings from President Pratibha Patil [Images] and the Prime Minister to the US President and First Lady Michelle Obama [Images]. The envoy said that she was looking forward to strengthen the strategic partnership between India and the US.

Succeeding Ronen Sen, whose term ended on March 31 this year, Shankar arrived in the US on April 26. She was earlier serving as the Indian Ambassador to Germany [Images].