Kuala Lumpur: S Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister of India, embarked on a crucial meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, commending his forward-thinking approach towards fortifying bilateral relations. Jaishankar expressed confidence that this vision would pave the way for a more ambitious agenda in the India-Malaysia relationship.
Jaishankar’s visit to Kuala Lumpur marked the final leg of his extensive tour across Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
In a Twitter post, Jaishankar shared his sentiment, stating, “Honoured to meet Prime Minister @anwaribrahim of Malaysia. Conveyed the warm greetings of PM @narendramodi.”
Highlighting Ibrahim’s vision, Jaishankar remarked, “His vision for stronger India-Malaysia ties, both in traditional and new-age areas, will help us craft a more ambitious agenda for the relationship.”
Benefiting from Ibrahim’s guidance and insights on regional developments, Jaishankar acknowledged the significance of such engagements.
Earlier, Jaishankar engaged in discussions with his Malaysian counterpart, Mohamad bin Haji Hasan.
The Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official statement, describing the meeting as “productive and frank,” covering various dimensions of Malaysia-India bilateral affairs along with regional and international issues.
Expressing his satisfaction, Jaishankar shared on X, “Delighted to meet FM @tokmatn9 to begin my visit to Malaysia.”
“Exchanged views on enhancing collaboration in political, economic, defence, digital, startups, consular and p2p (people-to-people) linkages.” he continued, sharing insights on regional dynamics spanning the Indo-Pacific, West Asia, and Ukraine.
Jaishankar expressed anticipation towards further strengthening engagements as both countries approach the completion of a decade of Enhanced Strategic Partnership.
The discussions also revolved around high-level visits and the convening of the 7th Joint Commission Meeting of Malaysia and India on a mutually agreeable date.
Highlighting the significance of this meeting, the statement noted that this was the first encounter between Jaishankar and Hasan since the latter assumed office in December 2023.
Jaishankar’s itinerary also includes a meeting with Malaysia’s Minister of Digital, Gobind Singh Deo, aimed at fostering cooperation and understanding shared challenges and opportunities.
The visit underscores the enduring relationship between Malaysia and India, characterized by robust economic partnerships and close people-to-people ties.
According to the statement, in 2023, India emerged as Malaysia’s 12th largest global trading partner, with total trade amounting to RM 77.76 billion (USD 16.53 billion).
