New Delhi: Describing India as an 'influential and major' member of the international community, Russia today said it was a 'deserving and strong' candidate for permanent membership of expanded UN Security Council.

Russia joined India in seeking reform of the UN and the two countries strongly advocated the need for establishing multi-polar world order based on 'principles of rule of law, sovereign equality, territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs of states.'

A joint statement issued after talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Vladimir Putin here said that activities aimed at strengthening a central coordinating role of the UN in maintaining peace and security and at increasing the efficiency and authority of the UN form important elements of India-Russia cooperation at the international level.

"India and Russia stress the need to implement the process of UN reform so as to reflect the contemporary realities," it said.

"The Russian Federation re-affirms its support to India as a deserving and strong candidate for the permanent membership in an expanded UN Security Council," the joint statement said.