Elections in India are a bit different from elections in the United States. American elections take place on a single day. This year’s Indian election spanned almost a month. American voters usually choose between two parties. In April and May, Indian voters chose among roughly 300. In November 2008, more than 130 million Americans cast their ballots. In India’s recent elections — the largest democratic exercise in world history — 417 million voted.

These distinctions should not obscure the fact that the two countries’ shared commitment to representative government has helped lay the foundation for a transformation in bilateral relations since the Cold War’s end.

In less than two decades, U.S.-Indian bilateral trade has increased 100-fold, from under $200 million to more than $20 billion. India is one of the world’s emerging powers, with an economy growing at an annual rate of 9 percent for the past five years. Today, more international students at U.S. universities come from India than any other country.

The biggest breakthrough came in 2008, when President George W. Bush and Congress approved a landmark civil nuclear cooperation agreement, which de facto recognized India as a nuclear power outside the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

While some question President Barack Obama’s commitment to expanding the “natural alliance” with India, this appears to be an administration priority.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who will visit India next month, recently said: “We see India as one of a few key partners worldwide who will help us shape the 21st century.”

But regionally, in addition to the war in Afghanistan, the Obama administration faces a deteriorating security situation in Pakistan, India’s neighbor and historic rival, and tremendous uncertainty in Iran and Iraq.

With the present solid bipartisan consensus in Washington on strengthening ties between America and India, there should be little doubt that the U.S.-India relationship will continue to grow.

The April-May election results bode well for the future. The center-left Congress Party won an unexpected 206 of 545 seats, leaving it less beholden to leftist parties highly derisive of engagement with the United States.

Several areas are ripe for U.S.-Indian engagement. Cooperation on civilian nuclear power is central to last year’s agreement; as nuclear powers, the United States and India have a responsibility to work together to stem nuclear weapons proliferation.

On trade, an American and Indian compromise on liberalizing the agricultural and service sectors in their respective economies could revive the moribund Doha Round of World Trade Organization talks. Assuming a role commensurate with its fast-growing international power will be a critical process for India, one that the United States can abet.

But we must maintain realistic expectations. India will not always be compliant with U.S. wishes, going its own way at times. For example, to its west India has long-standing and friendly ties with Iran. The potential extension of a planned 1,300-mile Iran-Pakistan natural gas pipeline to India could further temper New Delhi’s enthusiasm for coordinating Iran policy with the United States. To its east, India is Myanmar’s second largest export partner. Sanctioning the junta is hardly a priority for New Delhi.

The important point is that shared democratic values will not always produce identical policies.

While it is an emerging power, India faces many challenges to its democratic system. Almost 700 million Indians get by on less than $2 per day. Inequality, rapid urbanization, population growth, sectarian tensions, cumbersome regulations and labor laws, and environmental degradation persist. A Maoist insurgency may be gaining momentum in central India. The country’s approximately 150 million Muslims endure a lower quality of life, on average, than India’s Hindus and face many barriers to advancement.

And the six-plus-decade dispute with Pakistan casts a long shadow over the subcontinent. Its resolution, perhaps more than anything else, would enhance regional stability.

Among these challenges lie many opportunities, and the United States and India are in a position to seize them jointly, to the great benefit of both countries’ peoples.