Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday strongly lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘unequivocal’ efforts toward peacekeeping and thanked him for India’s firm support for diplomatic solutions to ongoing global conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the crisis in the Middle East.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Modi in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar Ibrahim underscored the depth of trust and understanding between the two leaders, describing their discussions as more than routine diplomatic engagements and rooted in genuine friendship.
He expressed appreciation for India’s continued role in supporting peace initiatives, particularly in Ukraine-Russia and Gaza, and reiterated that Prime Minister Modi’s approach to peacekeeping remains consistent and resolute.
Highlighting the broader bilateral relationship, the Malaysian Prime Minister said the meeting was vital and strategic for advancing ties between the two countries. He noted that although India and Malaysia have shared relations since 1957, the partnership was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024.
Anwar Ibrahim pointed to deep historical connections, strong people-to-people links and steadily expanding economic cooperation.
He said both nations are committed to deepening collaboration across a wide range of sectors, including trade and investment, semiconductors, the digital economy, local-currency trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, food security, defence, education, healthcare, tourism, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.
He added that both governments and foreign ministers remain committed to executing these initiatives in a timely and effective manner.
Trade Expansion, Education, Tourism And Connectivity In Focus
The Malaysian Prime Minister said the two countries exchanged 11 documents, including memorandums of understanding and letters, covering areas that extended beyond conventional bilateral arrangements, such as cooperation in semiconductors, healthcare and security.
Expressing optimism about economic ties, he said Malaysia hopes to expand trade cooperation with India beyond the $8.59 billion achieved in 2025 and described the use of local currencies—the Indian rupee and the Malaysian ringgit—as a remarkable achievement.
He noted India’s rapid economic growth and said Malaysia, particularly within the ASEAN framework, stands to benefit significantly from deeper engagement with India. He also highlighted education as a pivotal area of cooperation, pointing out that many Malaysians have studied in India, while Indian students are increasingly choosing Malaysia for higher education.
Anwar Ibrahim stressed the need to enhance tourism and connectivity and welcomed India’s decision to open a consulate in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, calling it a reflection of strong bilateral ties.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held delegation-level talks covering multiple areas of cooperation, including defence and security. Prime Minister Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Perdana Putra in Putrajaya.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit is being viewed as a key step toward further strengthening the long-standing friendship between India and Malaysia, anchored in mutual trust, shared values and common aspirations for the future.
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