At a joint press conference with India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the first day of a three-day official visit, Putin said Russia backed India's quest for a permanent berth on the UN Security Council.

"Speaking about the enlargement from the point of view of geographical representation, India is number one on the list," he told the news conference at the end of nearly five hours of talks between the two sides.

Singh, for his part, said: "We will fully support Russia's early entry into the WTO (World Trade Organisation)."

Moscow and New Delhi maintained cozy relations during the Cold War. But in recent years under the previous Hindu nationalist government, India's ties with the United States warmed considerably.

Singh's new left-backed government which took office in May, is signalling it had not forgotten its longstanding ally, analysts said, while at the same time keeping relations cordial with Washington.

The two sides said in a joint statement they were, "determined to foster in every possible way the relationships of partnership and closely interact on a bilateral and multilateral basis."

India which is battling an Islamic insurgency against its rule in Kashmir and Russia, which is seeking to crush a Muslim separatist revolt in Chechnya, also reaffirmed their "common resolve to fight terrorism."

The statement noted "the transformation in the global environment in the recent past and stresses the need for a new international architecture based on a multi-polar world."

In an interview with the Hindu newspaper, Putin said developments in Iraq proved unilateral action taken by the US and its allies in invading the country was "counter-productive" and actions by the world community to tackle "the terrorist international" should "start from international law."

Iraq has "turned into a major hotbed of terrorist threat, a firing ground and 'incubator' for militants" that posed a threat to the world, he said.

The two sides also signed a slew of agreements ranging from energy to space.

Russia agreed to expand its role in the co-production of a cruise missile called BrahMos. The multi-target BrahMos which can be launched from submarine, ship, aircraft or land.

There was no immediate deal on Russia's push for India to sign an agreement on intellectual property rights that Putin is seeking to safeguard agreements to service India's huge Soviet-built arsenal. But Singh said both had agreed to the issue "should be resolved within the next fourth months beginning January."

Singh said the issue of spare parts for India's Russia-dependent war machine had been settled.