MOSCOW, January 23 (RIA Novosti) - Russia would welcome India's full-fledged participation in the UN, including as a permanent member of the Security Council, the Russian president said Tuesday.

Vladimir Putin will visit the South Asian nation January 25-26.

"It would be in our interest, considering the special relationship between India and Russia. I am sure that in that case, we would acquire a reliable partner and ally at the Security Council," he said in an interview with the Indian news agency PTI, adding that his visit to India will further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.

"We are natural allies. We have serious, long-term plans in major sectors, including high technology. This refers to space, aviation, shipbuilding and energy, including nuclear energy. I am confident that progress will be achieved along each of these lines," Putin said.

But he said that trade, which stands at $3 billion, is inadequate given the size of the two countries, adding that Russia's trade with China last year totaled $20 billion.

Putin said that by 2010, Russia-India trade could reach $10 billion.