India, Malaysia Elevate Bilateral Relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 21st August. In a step towards strengthening bilateral relations, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, visited India on 20 August 2024, following an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This visit marked Prime Minister Ibrahim’s first trip to South Asia, offering an opportunity for both leaders to review and enhance the strategic ties between their nations.

Accompanied by a high-level delegation, Prime Minister Ibrahim engaged in wide-ranging discussions with his Indian counterpart, covering multiple facets of India-Malaysia relations, from defense and security to economic cooperation and cultural exchanges.

The visit was highlighted by a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan and a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat. Bilateral talks between the two leaders were followed by the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), encompassing areas such as digital technologies, culture, tourism, and public administration.

Key achievements of the visit included the elevation of the India-Malaysia relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, recognizing the progress made since the Enhanced Strategic Partnership was established in 2015. The two nations also celebrated a record high in bilateral trade, reaching USD 19.5 billion, and agreed to expedite the review process of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to enhance trade facilitation.

Defense cooperation was a focal point, with both sides agreeing to intensify collaboration, particularly in defense industry and research and development. The leaders also condemned terrorism and emphasized the importance of rejecting it in all forms, with a commitment to bring perpetrators to justice.

In the realm of digital cooperation, the signing of an MoU on Digital Technologies and the establishment of the Malaysia-India Digital Council were welcomed as steps towards accelerating collaboration in digital infrastructure and emerging technologies.

The visit underscored the importance of youth exchange, higher education cooperation, and the integration of local currencies in bilateral trade, with both leaders expressing satisfaction with the ongoing collaboration in these areas.

The two Prime Ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable energy, climate change adaptation, and enhanced tourism cooperation, with a particular focus on increasing air connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.

Prime Minister Ibrahim extended an invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit Malaysia, further cementing the close ties between the two nations and setting the stage for continued collaboration on regional and global issues.