India, Malaysia Reaffirm Comprehensive Strategic Partnership During PM Modi’s Official Visit

Kuala Lumpur/New Delhi, Feb 8: India and Malaysia on Saturday reaffirmed their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Malaysia from February 7–8, marking a significant step in deepening bilateral ties across political, economic, strategic and people-to-people domains.

Prime Minister Modi visited Malaysia at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The visit underscored the deep-rooted civilizational links, shared democratic values and strong people-to-people connections between the two nations, which have maintained diplomatic relations since 1957. The partnership was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in August 2024.

Prime Minister Modi was accorded an official welcome at the Perdana Putra Complex in Putrajaya, followed by bilateral talks on February 8. The discussions, held in a warm and cordial atmosphere, covered a wide spectrum of cooperation including political engagement, defence and security, maritime cooperation, trade and investment, digital economy, semiconductors, energy, agriculture, healthcare, education, culture, tourism and regional and global issues. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also hosted an official luncheon in honour of Prime Minister Modi.

Expanding Political and Parliamentary Engagement

The two leaders emphasized the importance of sustained political dialogue through mechanisms such as Foreign Office Consultations and Joint Commission Meetings. They welcomed enhanced parliamentary exchanges, noting recent high-level visits between legislative bodies of both countries, which have strengthened institutional linkages and mutual understanding.

Trade, Investment and Economic Cooperation

Recognising India as a vital global economic partner, Malaysia welcomed the steady growth in bilateral trade and investment. Both leaders stressed the importance of the Malaysia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (MICECA) and the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), welcoming the ongoing review of AITIGA to make it more trade-facilitative and aligned with current global practices.

They encouraged greater investments in priority sectors such as infrastructure, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, healthcare, digital economy, fintech, artificial intelligence, startups and green technologies. The two Prime Ministers also welcomed the 10th India-Malaysia CEO Forum held in Kuala Lumpur and encouraged greater use of local currencies—the Indian Rupee and Malaysian Ringgit—in bilateral trade.

Food Security, Digital and Energy Cooperation

Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in food security and agri-commodity trade, with Malaysia reaffirming its commitment as a reliable supplier of sustainable palm oil. Collaboration in downstream and value-added palm oil products was also agreed upon.

The leaders welcomed the formalisation of the Malaysia–India Digital Council, which will advance cooperation in fintech, digital public infrastructure, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. They also applauded the collaboration between NPCI International and PayNet Malaysia to establish bilateral payment linkages.

In the energy sector, both leaders highlighted growing cooperation in renewable energy and green hydrogen, while acknowledging Malaysia’s participation in India’s clean energy transition. They also stressed the strategic importance of semiconductors and welcomed ongoing cooperation between academic institutions and industry bodies in both countries.

Defence, Security and Counter-Terrorism

The leaders expressed satisfaction with the robust defence partnership, including joint exercises, training programmes and defence industry collaboration. They welcomed the successful conduct of the fifth edition of the joint military exercise Harimau Shakti and growing maritime cooperation through naval visits and exercises.

Both Prime Ministers strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms, reiterating zero tolerance and the need for concerted international efforts to counter terrorism, radicalisation and transnational organised crime. They reaffirmed cooperation in multilateral forums including the UN and FATF.

Education, Culture and People-to-People Ties

The leaders encouraged greater student and faculty exchanges, enhanced cooperation in technical and vocational education, and welcomed initiatives such as the ‘Study in India’ programme. They also welcomed the operationalisation of the Thiruvalluvar Chair and establishment of the Thiruvalluvar Centre at Universiti Malaya.

Tourism, civil aviation and visa liberalisation were identified as key drivers of people-to-people ties, with both sides agreeing to strengthen air connectivity and promote sustainable tourism.

Regional and Multilateral Cooperation

The two leaders exchanged views on regional and global developments, reaffirming support for ASEAN unity and centrality, a free and open Indo-Pacific, and respect for international law, including UNCLOS. Malaysia welcomed India’s 2026 BRICS Chairmanship, while India supported Malaysia’s aspiration for BRICS membership.

India also appreciated Malaysia’s support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council.

Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude to the Malaysian leadership and people for their warm hospitality and extended an invitation to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to visit India in the near future.