Putin to back India's inclusion in G8

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he would back expanding G-8 to include India, China and Brazil if other members of the elite club of the world's most industrialised nations voice such a proposal.

His comments came ahead of the first session of the G-8 summit, which opened in Strelna on the Gulf of Finland near St Petersberg here today.

The 2-day summit of the world's 8 richest nations is being attended by the leaders of Britain, Germany, Italy, Canada, the United States, France and Japan under the rotating Presidency of Russia.

Russia will back the expansion of the G-8 if its partners in the club voice such a proposal, Putin said before the formal opening of the summit.

He said it would be difficult to imagine how international financial and energy problems could be solved without involving India, China and Brazil.

"If our partners believe the raising of this issue...Is possible, we will of course support it," Putin said. Russia had become a member of the group in 1998...comparatively recently, Putin said.

The Chairman of the European Commission and the Prime Minister of Finland are also attending the summit at which international energy security, the fight against infectious diseases and education are slated to be key topics.