New Delhi, Jan 18, SPA -- Stronger trade and Defence ties were to be discussed during the five-day official visit to India of Chilean President Ricardo Lagos Escobar that started Tuesday. It is the first visit by a Chilean head of state to India. Chile has backed India for permanent membership on the United Nations Security Council, a statement from India's ministry of external affairs said. Chile was interested in buying advanced light helicopters from India and the Chilean Defence minister was expected to visit India in April, the statement said. During Escobar's visit, the two countries were to sign an agreement for cooperation in trade, as well as a memorandum of understanding between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Chilean Agricultural Research Institute. Starting with India's financial capital Bombay, Escobar was also to travel to New Delhi, Agra - home to the Tag Mahal, and Bangalore - the country's information technology hub. Last year, trade between India and Chile was valued at 422 million U.S. dollars. India's main exports to Chile include cars, two wheelers, tractors, trucks, textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and leather products. Escobar was accompanied by ministers for external relations, agriculture and education, and a 50-member business delegation. Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Chile in 1968 and President Shankar Dayal Sharma in 1995. --SPA 1430 Local Time 1130 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/233452