PM Modi, Malaysia PM Anwar Ibrahim hold talks on defence, economy and ASEAN - top developments

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour at the Perdana Putra building in Putrajaya on Sunday, marking a key moment in his two-day official visit to Malaysia.

The reception followed his arrival in Kuala Lumpur a day earlier, when Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim personally welcomed him at the airport.The visit comes months after India and Malaysia elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in August 2024. Bilateral talks between the two leaders are expected to focus on defence and security, economic cooperation, innovation, clean energy, semiconductors, and people-to-people ties, amid a shifting global and regional security landscape.Ceremonial welcome at Perdana PutraPM Modi was accorded a red-carpet welcome at Perdana Putra, the Malaysian Prime Minister’s office complex, accompanied by a Guard of Honour. The ceremony featured traditional music and dance performances, reflecting the shared cultural heritage between the two countries.Malaysian Minister of Human Resources Ramanan Ramakrishnan and Deputy Foreign Minister Lukanisman bin Awang Sauni were present at the reception.

Reflecting on the welcome, PM Modi posted on X: "Deeply touched by the warm welcome extended by my friend, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the airport. I look forward to our conversations and to further strengthening the bonds of friendship between India and Malaysia."Joint outreach to Indian communityFollowing the arrival ceremony, PM Modi and PM Anwar Ibrahim travelled together in the same vehicle to attend an Indian community event in Kuala Lumpur.

The Malaysian Prime Minister also participated in the programme.Sharing an update on X, PM Modi wrote, "Celebrating the India-Malaysia people-to-people connect! PM Anwar Ibrahim and I are heading to the community programme in Kuala Lumpur."Bilateral talks on wide-ranging agendaThe two leaders are scheduled to hold delegation-level talks on Sunday, with discussions expected to result in multiple agreements aimed at expanding cooperation across sectors.In his departure statement before the visit, PM Modi said: "The historic ties between India and Malaysia have seen steadfast progress in recent years. I look forward to my discussions with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and further enhancing our comprehensive strategic partnership.""We will aim to deepen our defence and security ties, enhance our economic and innovation partnership, and expand our collaboration into new domains."External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the visit carries a "rich agenda and will give a major boost to the special partnership between India and Malaysia"."The visit is expected to impart significant momentum to our close & multi-faceted partnership," he added.Modi-Anwar delegation-level talksDuring delegation-level talks, PM Modi underlined the growing depth of bilateral ties, saying: "I am fully experiencing the height and depth of this friendship, and for this, I am deeply grateful to you.

It is my great fortune that as Prime Minister, I have had the opportunity to visit Malaysia for the third time, and our friendship is such that I am getting the opportunity to meet you for the fourth time during your tenure.

This itself demonstrates our momentum and dynamism. The pace and depth that our bilateral relations have achieved in recent years are truly inspiring. I sincerely thank you for your invaluable contribution in this regard..."Cooperation expanding across key sectorsHighlighting sectoral cooperation, PM Modi said: "Today, our cooperation is deepening in every sector, from agriculture and manufacturing to clean energy and semiconductors. We are also important partners in skill development and capacity building. Our defence and security cooperation is also continuously strengthening."He also congratulated Malaysia on its ASEAN role, adding: "I once again congratulate you on your successful chairmanship of ASEAN.

We are confident that with Malaysia's cooperation, our relations with ASEAN will deepen and expand further."Diaspora a living bridgeEmphasising people-to-people ties, PM Modi said: "The true strength of our relationship lies in our people-to-people ties. The nearly 3 million Malaysian citizens of Indian origin are a living bridge between our two countries..."Referring to his interaction with the Indian diaspora, he added: "Yesterday, I also had the opportunity to meet with members of the diaspora with you.

It was a very special experience, and I saw the personal respect and affection that the diaspora has for you, which was evident yesterday. I felt a sense of pride."Terrorism, global instability and shared prosperityPM Modi said cooperation between friendly nations was essential in the current global environment. "The support of friendly nations is crucial in our fight against terrorism. We firmly believe that the prosperity of India and Malaysia is intertwined. In this environment of global instability, it is essential for India and Malaysia, two maritime neighbours, to utilise the full potential of our relationship."He added: "The core message of my visit today is very clear: India wants to work with Malaysia to take our relationship to a new level and expand cooperation in every possible area..."