India, China sign 3 pacts within hours of Xi's arrival

India and China today inked three pacts here, hours within the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping on a three-day visit to India during which the two countries will focus on boosting trade and investments, besides discussing substantive issues including the contentious border dispute.

Xi, accompanied by his wife Peng liyuan and a delegation of senior party and government officials, was received by Gujarat Governor O P Kohli and Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and other senior state Cabinet ministers and accorded a grand welcome with various folk artists performing at the airport.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the visiting dignitary and his wife at the entrance of the Hyatt Hotel after which the Prime Minister showed them an exhibition of various Buddhist artifacts and slides.

Thereafter, the two leaders had a brief meeting before heading for the signing-in ceremony of the pacts which are aimed at giving boost to Chinese investments here.

The agreements include sister city pact between Guangzhou in China and Ahmedabad and setting up of an industrial park in the state.

Keen to boost its trade ties with India, the Chinese side has already indicated that it will pledge to invest billions of dollars in India's railway, manufacturing and infrastructure projects during the Xi's visit, the third by any Chinese President to India.