By Li Hongmei

China said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's three-day visit from Tuesday is of great importance for deepening strategic partnership amid expectations that the two sides would sign some key pacts.

"We attach great importance to the visit and are looking forward to it," China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing on Monday.

"It is of great importance to deepen China-India strategic partnership as the visit follows the visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to India in May."

Singh, who is arriving at Beijing on Tuesday night after a visit to Russia, will be hosted by both President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.

Among the pacts expected to be signed during the visit is the Border Defense Cooperation Agreement (BDCA), which is perceived as a major confidence-building measure by both countries.

Also, a draft agreement on relaxed visa regime for Chinese travelers to India might come up for discussions.

At issue too would be an agreement on establishing Chinese industrial parks in India, expected to bring in investment from China, as a Chinese team is still scouting sites in India.

Agreements on promoting culture and people-to-people contacts are expected to be signed.