NEW DELHI: India and Malaysia upgraded their relations to a “comprehensive strategic partnership” as PM Narendra Modi hosted his counterpart Anwar Ibrahim for wide-ranging talks that saw the two sides sign nine MoUs, including one for the welfare of 140,000 Indian workers in the southeast Asian country.
The leaders discussed the need to counter radicalisation and extremism, and also the situation in South China Sea (SCS) with Modi saying after the meeting that India remains committed to freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international laws and peaceful resolution of all disputes.Malaysia is among the Asean countries that’s on the receiving end of China’s sweeping sovereignty claims over the SCS.
Modi also said both sides were unanimous in the fight against terrorism and extremism, though Indian officials didn’t confirm whether India used the meeting to renew its demand for the extradition of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, who is wanted in India for spreading religious hatred and money-laundering.
In a joint statement, both PMs condemned terrorism and agreed to call upon States to reject terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. They also underlined that no country should harbour terrorists and agreed to work together to bring perpetrators of terrorism to justice expeditiously, in accordance with domestic laws and international conventions. India also announced a one-time allocation of 200,000 MT of white rice to Malaysia.
Modi said new possibilities of mutual cooperation in the defence sector were discussed in the meeting, as he described Malaysia as an important partner in Asean and the Indo-Pacific.
“India gives priority to Asean centrality. We agree that the review of the FTA between India and Asean should be completed in a timely manner. India will extend full support to Malaysia’s successful Asean chairmanship in 2025,” he said.
On the signing of an MoU for recruitment, employment and repatriation of Indian workers, Modi said will promote recruitment of workers from India as well as protect their interests, adding visa procedures have been simplified to facilitate the movement of people. Briefing reporters later about the meeting, Indian ambassador to Malaysia B N Reddy said the agreement will also allow Indians, unlike earlier, to work in all sectors open to foreign workers.
MEA secretary (east) Jaideep Mazumdar said Malaysia backed India’s bid for permanent membership in UN Security Council. The official said that said the leaders discussed defence cooperation “both in terms of compatibility of equipment that we have and how we can cooperate in that area in terms of maintenance and extending service life of such equipment and also in terms of India being a source country for defence exports that has happened over the last few years”.
The leaders discussed the need to counter radicalisation and extremism, and also the situation in South China Sea (SCS) with Modi saying after the meeting that India remains committed to freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international laws and peaceful resolution of all disputes.Malaysia is among the Asean countries that’s on the receiving end of China’s sweeping sovereignty claims over the SCS.
Modi also said both sides were unanimous in the fight against terrorism and extremism, though Indian officials didn’t confirm whether India used the meeting to renew its demand for the extradition of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, who is wanted in India for spreading religious hatred and money-laundering.
In a joint statement, both PMs condemned terrorism and agreed to call upon States to reject terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. They also underlined that no country should harbour terrorists and agreed to work together to bring perpetrators of terrorism to justice expeditiously, in accordance with domestic laws and international conventions. India also announced a one-time allocation of 200,000 MT of white rice to Malaysia.
Modi said new possibilities of mutual cooperation in the defence sector were discussed in the meeting, as he described Malaysia as an important partner in Asean and the Indo-Pacific.
“India gives priority to Asean centrality. We agree that the review of the FTA between India and Asean should be completed in a timely manner. India will extend full support to Malaysia’s successful Asean chairmanship in 2025,” he said.
On the signing of an MoU for recruitment, employment and repatriation of Indian workers, Modi said will promote recruitment of workers from India as well as protect their interests, adding visa procedures have been simplified to facilitate the movement of people. Briefing reporters later about the meeting, Indian ambassador to Malaysia B N Reddy said the agreement will also allow Indians, unlike earlier, to work in all sectors open to foreign workers.
MEA secretary (east) Jaideep Mazumdar said Malaysia backed India’s bid for permanent membership in UN Security Council. The official said that said the leaders discussed defence cooperation “both in terms of compatibility of equipment that we have and how we can cooperate in that area in terms of maintenance and extending service life of such equipment and also in terms of India being a source country for defence exports that has happened over the last few years”.