PM Narendra Modi leaves for UK; investment, defence cooperation top agenda

PM 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.

New Delhi: Seeking to strengthen Indo-UK economic ties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday left for Britain to begin his first visit to the country, during which he will have a hectic schedule that will start with talks with his British counterpart David Cameron.

"Leaving for UK. I am hopeful this visit will strengthen economic ties between India and UK & bring more investment to India. #makeinindia," he tweeted before starting his three-day visit.

After arriving in London this afternoon, he will have talks with Cameron at 10 Downing Street. He will address a joint press conference at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) after the bilateral talks.

PM Modi will have a luncheon meeting with her majesty the Queen at the Buckingham Palace and he will also be the first Indian Prime Minister to address the UK Parliament.

MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted some pictures of the Prime Minister.

Foreign policy work continues in the midst of the festive season. PM @narendramodi leaves for UK and @G20Turkey2015 pic.twitter.com/eCveu8podr

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) November 12, 2015

His other engagements include a visit to BR Ambedkar's house in which he lived when he was a student at the London School of Economics as well as unveiling the bust of Sri Basaveshwara at the Thames river embankment.

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.