Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Britain for three-day visit

London: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in London on Thursday for a three-day visit that will see India and Britain sign a number of pacts on mutual investments and defence cooperation.

Modi was received at Heathrow International Airport, among others, by British Minister of State for the Foreign Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire, British High Commissioner to India James David Evan, Indian High Commissioner to Britain Ranjan Mathai, and British Minister of State for Employment Priti Patel, who is of Indian origin.

"My visit is aimed at strengthening cooperation with a traditional friend that is not only a major economic partner of India but also one of the leading economic players of the world," Modi said in a series of pre-departure Facebook posts.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) is flanked by Hugo Swire (2L), Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Member of Parliament Priti Patel on arrival at Heathrow Airport, London on Thursday. Narendra Modi will meet Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and address a huge rally at London's Wembley Stadium during a three-day visit to Britain focused on trade and investment starting today. Pic/AFP

Modi's visit to Britain is the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister in nine years after Manmohan Singh's visit in 2006. Singh visited Britain in 2009 to attend the G-20 summit.

On November 14, Modi will leave for Turkey to attend the annual G-20 summit.