Widely expected to take over as Britain's prime minister later this year, Gordon Brown embarks on a three-day visit to India on Wednesday, aimed at boosting bilateral ties as well as his public profile.

The 55-year-old Chancellor of the Exchequer will travel to Bangalore, New Delhi and Mumbai in the course of a hectic schedule that includes meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

"Brown can learn from India," The Times newspaper said in an editorial that described Indians, like Americans, as 'our cousins.'

The Chancellor has to deploy charm to convince India's leaders of how much they have in common with the West, the editorial said, adding that under Brown, who is likely to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister, Britain can be a bridge between India and US.

Brown has never been to India before but one of his close friends Lord Swraj Paul says that the Chancellor is a great friend of India and is excited about the visit.