Hu visit: India, China to ink investment agreement

In an effort to boost bilateral ties, India and China are expected to sign 12 pacts, including a Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement (BIPA), during President Hu Jintao's visit here next month.

An accord for putting in place an arrangement for regional trade is also likely to be inked during the four-day visit from November 20, official sources said today.

Other agreements to be signed include one on student-exchanges and another on holding festivals on a reciprocal basis, they said.

Immense significance is being attached to the visit as it is expected to give a major boost to relations between the world's two fastest growing economies.

The two sides were also expected to review progress in their boundary talks amid hopes that momentum would be given to efforts to find an amicable solution to the issue, they said.

Hu's visit comes more than a year after the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, which marked a considerable improvement in ties between the two large neighbours.

During Wen's visit, the two sides signed a declaration on strategic partnership for peace and prosperity and the crucial "Political Parameters and Guiding Principles" aimed at resolving the boundary question through talks.