Zero tolerance to terrorism, strong economic push mark India–Malaysia joint statement
India and Malaysia on Sunday reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the India–Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Malaysia from February 7 to 8, at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
A joint statement issued following bilateral talks said the visit reflected the deep-rooted friendship, civilisational links and strong people-to-people ties between the two countries. The leaders held extensive discussions covering political engagement, defence and security, maritime cooperation, trade and investment, digital economy, energy, semiconductors, agriculture, healthcare, education, culture, tourism and regional and global issues.
Prime Minister Modi was accorded an official welcome at the Perdana Putra Complex in Putrajaya. The two leaders also witnessed the exchange of several bilateral agreements and documents aimed at strengthening institutional cooperation.
Trade, Investment and Economic Cooperation
Both leaders acknowledged the steady growth in bilateral trade and agreed to enhance trade facilitation and expand cooperation in key sectors including semiconductors, digital economy, artificial intelligence, fintech, renewable energy, healthcare and advanced manufacturing. They emphasised the importance of the Malaysia–India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (MICECA) and welcomed the ongoing review of the ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA).
The two sides also welcomed the growing use of local currency settlement in bilateral trade, encouraging wider use of the Indian rupee and Malaysian ringgit to enhance economic resilience.
Digital, Energy and Semiconductor Partnership
The leaders welcomed the formalisation of the Malaysia–India Digital Council to strengthen cooperation in digital public infrastructure, fintech, cybersecurity and emerging technologies. They also noted collaboration between NPCI International and PayNet Malaysia to establish cross-border digital payment linkages.
In the energy sector, both sides highlighted cooperation in renewable energy and green hydrogen, while underscoring the strategic importance of semiconductors and the need to strengthen the supply chain, workforce development and technological innovation.
Defence, Security and Counter-Terrorism
India and Malaysia expressed satisfaction over the robust defence partnership, including regular exercises, training and staff-level engagements. They reaffirmed cooperation in maritime security and welcomed the conduct of the fifth edition of the joint military exercise Harimau Shakti.
The two leaders strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms, reaffirmed zero tolerance towards terrorism and agreed to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing and combating transnational organised crime, including at multilateral forums such as the UN and FATF.
Education, Culture and People-to-People Ties
Both sides agreed to enhance student and faculty exchanges and cooperation in skill development, including technical and vocational education. India invited Malaysian students to participate in the ‘Study in India’ programme.
The leaders welcomed progress on the Thiruvalluvar Chair at Universiti Malaya and the establishment of a Thiruvalluvar Centre, along with the announcement of Thiruvalluvar Scholarships for Malaysian nationals. They also reaffirmed tourism, cultural exchanges and air connectivity as key pillars of bilateral engagement.
Regional and Global Cooperation
The two leaders exchanged views on regional and global developments, emphasising dialogue and diplomacy for peaceful conflict resolution. They reaffirmed support for ASEAN centrality, a free and open Indo-Pacific, and adherence to international law, including UNCLOS.
Malaysia welcomed India’s BRICS Chairmanship in 2026, while India reiterated support for Malaysia’s role as a BRICS Partner Country. Both leaders also pledged to strengthen cooperation at multilateral forums and supported reforms of international institutions, including the UN Security Council.
Prime Minister Modi thanked the Malaysian leadership and people for the warm hospitality and extended an invitation to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to visit India.
