RB News World Latest News
Related Articles
On the second day of his visit to Malaysia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Following the talks, both leaders delivered joint press statements to the media. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim welcomed Prime Minister Modi, stating that the leaders of both countries have established excellent relations. He expressed his gratitude to PM Modi and his team, saying, “We have discussed some issues of concern, and I believe these should be addressed by our teams. We look forward to greater cooperation in all areas, and this visit is very important to me personally.”
The Malaysian Prime Minister praised PM Modi’s personal journey and struggles. He said, “I have followed your struggles, and I say that I am fortunate to have Mr. Modi and India as great personal friends.”
What did PM Modi say?
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “I thank you from the bottom of my heart. The way you welcomed me and my team, and showcased Malaysian life so beautifully in these few hours, going beyond traditional customs, and organizing everything in an excellent manner. This will always remain in our memories. For this, I express my sincere and special gratitude. I fully feel the height and depth of this friendship, and for this, I express my deep gratitude to you. It is a great privilege for me to have the opportunity to visit Malaysia for the third time as Prime Minister, and our friendship is such that I am getting the opportunity to meet you for the fourth time during your tenure. This reflects the pace and dynamism of our relations. The momentum and depth that our bilateral relations have gained in the last few years is truly inspiring. For this, I thank you especially.”
PM Modi congratulated the Malaysian PM
PM Modi said, “Today, our cooperation is deepening in every sector. From agriculture, manufacturing, clean energy, semiconductors to skill development and capacity building. Our defense and security cooperation is also constantly strengthening. I congratulate you again on your successful chairmanship of ASEAN.” We believe that our relations with ASEAN will deepen with Malaysia’s cooperation. The true strength of our relationship lies in the ties between our people. Nearly 3 million Malaysians of Indian origin are a vibrant bridge between our two countries. Yesterday, I also had the opportunity to meet with the diaspora, which was a very special experience. I saw the immense personal respect and affection the diaspora has for you. The support of friendly nations is very important in our fight against terrorism. We firmly believe that the prosperity of India and Malaysia is intertwined. In this environment of global instability, as two maritime neighbors, India and Malaysia must utilize the full potential of their relationship.”
PM Modi makes his intentions clear
Expressing his sentiments in clear terms, PM Modi said, “The main message of my visit is very clear. India wants to take its relationship with Malaysia to new heights and enhance cooperation in every possible area.” Following the delegation-level meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Memoranda of Understanding were signed in areas including health, national security, and labor. PM Modi said, “Last year, I could not come to Malaysia for the ASEAN Summit, but I promised my dear friend that I would visit Malaysia as soon as possible. For my first foreign visit of 2026, I have come to Malaysia. India-Malaysia relations are truly special. We are maritime neighbors. For centuries, there have been deep ties between the people of our two countries. Today, Malaysia is the second-largest country in the world with a significant population of people of Indian origin. Our civilizations are connected by a shared cultural heritage and democratic values.”
Partnership to improve in these areas
PM Narendra Modi said, “In the security sector, we will strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, and maritime security. We will also further expand defense cooperation. With AI and digital technology, we will further advance our partnership in semiconductors, health, and food security. The CEO Forum organized today has opened new opportunities for trade and investment.” We will pave the way for economic transformation through strategic trust. In the last few years, our relationship has gained new momentum. My friend, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has made a significant contribution to this. Our cooperation in energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing has strengthened. Mutual investments in the digital economy, biotech, and IT have increased. Tourism and people-to-people ties have also deepened. Inspired by these achievements, we have decided to bring unprecedented speed and depth to our partnership.
Better Tourism
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said, “I also want to take this opportunity to thank Prime Minister Modi for his firm commitment to supporting all efforts for peace around the world, whether it’s Ukraine, Russia, or the Middle East, particularly in Gaza. His commitment to supporting the peace process is clear, and therefore I must commend him. As a sign of our excellent relations, I immediately agreed to support the Indian government’s decision to open an Indian consulate in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Tourism and connectivity are areas that we need to emphasize more. We have seen tremendous growth in the past year, and we hope that with visa liberalization and increased air connectivity, Malaysia Truly Asia and Incredible India will benefit. I have been to India many times and visited hundreds of places, and I still feel that I haven’t seen all of India. It’s a vast country, Mr. Prime Minister, and it’s a wonderful country to visit and learn from. In terms of history, culture, art, new advancements in technology, and regional and international issues, I must commend myself because in my discussions with Prime Minister Modi, it’s not just the usual platitudes and diplomatic exchanges. It’s a conversation between true friends, full of trust and understanding.”
Malaysian PM praises India
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim praised India, saying, “India is growing rapidly, which is a tremendous advantage in the international economic and trade scene, and therefore Malaysia, in the context of ASEAN, will certainly benefit greatly if we can find more ways and opportunities to work together with India so that we can surpass the $18.59 billion achieved in 2025. A major achievement is the decision to use local currencies as much as possible. Education is still crucial. Many Malaysians have studied in India, and the number of Indian students in Malaysia is also increasing, but over the past decade or so, under the premiership of my good friend Prime Minister Modi, you have seen the remarkable rise of Indian centers of excellence in education. This is not only comparable, but many of them have even surpassed well-known institutions in the West. Therefore, we will certainly consider increasing the number of students studying in India in various subjects and fields.”
Key deals on semiconductors and healthcare
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said, “We consider this meeting and these exchanges to be very important, very strategic, and essential for advancing and improving relations between India and Malaysia. We have had long-standing relations since 1957, but we have elevated it to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024. Deep historical ties, strong people-to-people connections, and steadily growing economic cooperation. We will continue to deepen cooperation in all areas: trade and investment, semiconductors, digital economy, trade in local currencies, connectivity, energy, agriculture, food security, defense, education, healthcare, tourism, culture, and people-to-people relations. This is truly comprehensive, and we are confident that with the commitment of both our governments and both our foreign ministers, we can move forward and implement it rapidly. We have witnessed the exchange of 11 documents, including MOUs, which went beyond the usual bilateral arrangements and included exchanges of letters. We also covered semiconductors, healthcare, and security cooperation, including peacekeeping cooperation.”
