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It is good news to see the world's largest and indeed the most complicated democracy in such a smooth state. The latest Indian election has created a new and confident India under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who has governed India for the past five years. His return will give India a big boost regionally and internationally. He would be the first Indian leader to return to his seat since former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1961.

The most fascinating aspect of Indian democracy is the great empowerment and sheer size of its voters, who can make or break governments in power and usher in new ones. Big applause must be given to the 700 million Indian voters who know what is best for the country. Before the election, many polls indicated the Congress Party might lose the voters' support. That was not the case. Now, the Congress is winning more seats, giving the incumbent prime minister more mandate and room to take charge of the economic crisis and other issues confronting India.

With such a strong mandate, India will seek to strengthen its position in the global stage, especially in its relations with the US and China. The US-India relations have improved and serve as a new pillar in international peace and stability. Their nuclear cooperation in past years, which caused outcries from the Left inside the country, has paid off handsomely. Indian voters realised the importance of one of the world's most powerful bilateral relations. They refused to be swayed by the negative public campaign waged by various political groups. From now on, the world's first and second largest democracies would increase their cooperation in promoting stability around the world.

Interestingly, after decades on the receiving end of criticism that democracy in India cannot deliver the kind of economic dividends seen in prosperous China, the paradigm shift is happening. India will certainly become richer and more prosperous than before. Its reformist government will continue the programs and policies of pro-growth and expand ties with foreign countries. Now, India will be compared more positively with China, the world's largest communist country. Obviously, the two Asian giants will serve as a mirror to each country's development and progress.

India must reach out to Asia more enthusiastically than before. India's interest in Asia began in the early 1990's and has continued since then. But the overall Indian policy towards Asia still lacks focus. Although India has paid lots of attention to Pakistan, its neighbour and China, in the future the country needs to pay more attention to Southeast Asia, where it has a great cultural influence. India has already joined the East Asia Summit as a founding member. Its further cooperation and contribution will strengthen its bonds with East Asia.

It remains to be seen how India will be able to carry itself in the ongoing East Asian Community building process. For a long time, nobody seemed to care for India's call for a greater cooperation in broader Asia. When he became prime minister of India in 2004, Singh said that India would like to establish an Asian Community that India can fit into and be a driving force. This notion has not yet taken root within the region. Now that India's democracy is further consolidated with continued reformist economic policies, the country's political and economic clout will increase dramatically.

The Congress Party, with Singh as leader, will guide India in the 21st century. It is to be hoped its relations with Pakistan will improve so that South Asia will become the hub of economic growth and can be integrated with the rest of Asia and the world in large. Never before has the Indian election produced such optimism. Along with old veterans, younger politicians such as Rahul Gandhi are making their presence felt.

If the younger generation is as committed to democratic values and social and economic progress, India's rising will be an added advantage in a democracy-deficit world.