MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has voiced support for expanding the Group of Eight to include India, China and Brazil.

Even though he did not think it would be appropriate for Russia as a recent member of G8 to take the initiative to induct new members, Mr. Putin said such expansion would make sense.

``It is hard to imagine how economic, financial (and) energy problems can be solved without the involvement of such fast growing economies as China and India," the Russian leader told a press briefing at the summit in St. Petersburg on Sunday. ``And, of course Brazil, which is the powerhouse of the American continent."

"If our partners (in G8) decide to put this issue (of expansion) on the agenda we will certainly support it," Mr. Putin said.

He also hailed a planned summit-level meeting of Russia, India and China during the G8 meeting as offering good opportunities for trilateral cooperation.

"China as also India are our neighbours and traditional partners. You know well that we have long-standing and very close relations of partnership with India. And I think that prospects for (trilateral) cooperation are very good indeed," Mr. Putin said.

He welcomed the "high level of political interaction" in the Russia-India-China triangle, saying that economic cooperation in trilateral format lagged behind.

``That is why our meeting in this format will be devoted above all to promoting economic ties between our three nations," Mr. Putin said.

The leaders of Russia, India and China will have the most intensive interactions on the sidelines of the G8 summit.

Apart from meeting in trilateral format, they will also hold bilateral meetings.

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