US President Barack Obama has praised Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan SIngh's knowledge of economic activities, which he said were of service to the G-20 summit which was focused on finding a way out of the economic crisis.

President Obama and Prime Minister Singh held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit.

Obama said, "I said before and I continue to believe that the extraordinary leadership that Prime Minister Singh has provided not just to India, but to the world, has helped us navigate through some very difficult times."

He added, "And I can tell you that here at the G20, when the Prime Minister speaks people listen, particularly because of his deep knowledge of economic issues, as well as the fact that he understands that as India rises as a world power, not just a regional power, that it also has enormous responsibilities to work with the rest of the world community around issues of peace and prosperity."

According to Obama, he looks forward to an upcoming visit to India, which follows Dr. Singh's state visit to the US in November 2009.

It has also been reported that Dr. Singh welcomed Obama's support in India's "social and economic transformation" and efforts to end the "scourge" of poverty, ignorance and disease, which he said, still afflicted India.

Dr. Singh said, "You are a role model to millions and millions of people all over the world. Your life history is a history which inspires millions of people everywhere where there are people who have risen by the sheer depth of their austerity, of their hard work, and their commitment to the values on which you have worked and you've stood for." (With Inputs from Agencies)