Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that India’s stance on terrorism is firm, asserting that there would be “no double standards and no compromise” on the issue. He said India will continue to expand cooperation with Malaysia in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing and maritime security.
Addressing a joint press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Kuala Lumpur, Prime Minister Modi thanked his counterpart for the warm welcome and said Malaysia was the destination of his first foreign visit in 2026.
Highlighting the depth of bilateral ties, Prime Minister Modi said India and Malaysia are maritime neighbours with centuries-old people-to-people connections. He noted that Malaysia hosts one of the world’s largest Indian-origin communities and said shared cultural heritage and democratic values form the foundation of the relationship.
The Prime Minister credited Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for giving fresh momentum to India–Malaysia ties in recent years. He said cooperation in energy, infrastructure and manufacturing has strengthened, while mutual investment has increased in areas such as the digital economy, biotechnology and information technology. He added that tourism and people-to-people engagement have also expanded.
On security cooperation, Prime Minister Modi said both countries have agreed to further strengthen collaboration in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing and maritime security, and to make defence cooperation more comprehensive.
He said India and Malaysia will also advance partnership in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, digital technologies, semiconductors, healthcare and food security. Referring to the CEO Forum held during the visit, the Prime Minister said it has opened new avenues for trade and investment, adding that strategic trust will drive economic transformation.
Reiterating India’s approach to global peace, Prime Minister Modi said India will continue to support all peacekeeping efforts, while maintaining a firm position against terrorism. He expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and said both countries will work together towards achieving the goals of Prosperous Malaysia and Viksit Bharat.
Describing the Indian-origin community in Malaysia as a “living bridge”, Prime Minister Modi said the diaspora of nearly 30 lakh people plays a vital role in strengthening bilateral relations. He said measures such as the Social Security Agreement for Indian workers, gratis e-visas and the introduction of UPI for tourism will directly benefit citizens of both countries.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the strong presence of the Tamil language in Malaysia, noting its influence in education, media and cultural life. He said the Audio-Visual Agreement signed during the visit would further strengthen cooperation in film and music, including Tamil cinema.
On regional issues, Prime Minister Modi said the Indo-Pacific is emerging as a hub of global growth and reiterated India’s commitment, along with ASEAN, to development, peace and stability in the region. He emphasised India’s support for ASEAN centrality and said the review of the ASEAN–India trade agreements should be completed at the earliest.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Perdana Putra in Putrajaya. The two leaders also held delegation-level talks covering defence, security and other areas of cooperation.
-IANS
