New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi left on Thursday for a three-day visit to Britain that will see India and Britain sign a number of pacts on mutual investments and defense cooperation.

"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.

"India and the UK are two vibrant democracies, which are proud of their diversity and multicultural societies," he stated.

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.

"UK is one of the fastest growing G-7 economies and is home to a strong financial services sector," Modi stated. "I see immense scope for our economic and trade relations to improve and this will benefit both our economies," he added.

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

(IANS)