The U.S. President Barack Obama has acknowledged that America has learnt a lot from the rich civilizational heritage of India. Addressing the joint sitting of Parliament in the Central Hall, he said that even the modern technological innovations have Indian roots like the invention of number zero. Amidst repeated cheers, Barack Obama lauded the role played by Mahatma Gandhi in the freedom struggle and said and had it not been for his message of peace he would not be standing here as President of the United States. Mr. Obama said that the Gandhian principle of non violence greatly influenced American Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King and gave the message to the world that this is the only logical approach for justice and progress. Mr. Obama said he was humbled when he visited the Mani Bhavan in Mumbai and Rajghat in Delhi the samadhi of the father of the nation. He said he feels honoured to address the representatives of more than one billion people, the world's largest democracy adding that he brought the greetings of world's oldest democracy America and three million patriotic Indian Americans. He said it is his firm believe that the friendship between India and the United States will be one of the defining partnership in the 21st century. Referring to his visit to India, Obama said this is his longest trip to a foreign country after he assumed office. He said, India is not an emerging country, but has emerged and the two countries will have a defining partnership in the 21st century.Earlier, U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in the Parliament House and was received by the Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Vice President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha Hamid Ansari, the Prime Minister and other leaders. As he entered the Central Hall of Parliament, the jam packed House gave a standing ovation to the U.S. President. He also wrote his remarks in the visitor's book before taken to the decorated podium. The members clapped and cheered as he stood before them. Welcoming him, the Vice President Hamid Ansari described him as a visiting dignitary of great eminence. He said, the members of both the Houses are rejoiced in welcoming him. The Vice President said, India admires that the tenacity of the U.S. President and his contribution to non-proliferation. He was confident that Obama's visit will bring the peoples' of both the nations together in fighting extremism. The US President Barack Obama has strongly supported India's claim for permanent seat in the UN Security Council. Annnouncing this amidst cheers of members of Parliament of the joint sitting of the two Houses, he said India was leading contributor to the peace keeping mission of the UN Body besides contributing significantly in addressing the global challenges in various international foras. He also mentioned India's steller role in fighting the climate change issue at Copenhagen.