US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's maiden visit to India has set Indo-US relations on a "new course" for the 21st century, US media said on Tuesday, terming the strategic dialogue as a "symbolic acknowledgment" of New Delhi's growing global stature.

Clinton's just-concluded trip has strengthened and deepened strategic bilateral ties, the mainstream American media commented on the outcome of the high-profile visit.

"The US generally reserves strategic dialogues for major countries like China, so this is a symbolic acknowledgment of India's rising role in the world," said The New York Times in its report which also appeared prominently in another prominent US daily The Boston Globe.

The Washington Post said that the Obama administration had through Clinton's visit made it clear that it wants to "further deepen ties" with India.