MOSCOW

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said Turkey could join the G7 alongside China and India, given its role in international affairs.

When asked at a plenary meeting of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok about a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump for Moscow's possible return to the group of the world's top economies, comprising the U.S., the U.K., Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, Putin said China and India will also make suitable members.

Russia was suspended from the G8 in 2014 due to its annexation of Crimea as well as its political and military support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. The group is now called G7.

Putin said all the participants of the meeting agreed at talks, that the discussion of some topics, like conflicts in the Middle East, is "more interesting" in a broader format than the G8.

"This suggests that without countries such as India and China, modern problems of the development can not be solved," Putin said.

"Turkey's work is also in demand and appropriate given its role in international affairs and in the region," Putin said, adding that the G20 is currently "the most representative organization" for dealing with the international problems.

The Eastern Economic Forum is an annual international forum held to encourage foreign investment in the Russian Far East. The Russian leadership also uses the sidelines of the event to discuss international and regional issues.