India, Malaysia to deepen defence cooperation, expand trade

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday arrived here on his maiden official visit to Singapore during which the two countries will sign an agreement to elevate their relations to strategic partnership.

To broaden the scope of security cooperation, the two countries will upgrade the level and complexity of defence exercises as well as expand collaboration in defence training, Modi said.

He expressed his gratitude to his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak for upholding the security cooperation between the nations as it underlined their shared commitment to deal with the security challenges. “We will continue to deepen security cooperation”, he added. I am confident that our strategic partnership will go to new level.

India and Malaysia also agreed to discuss further with a view to conclude the signing of a MoU on transfer of sentenced prisoners to each other’s prisons.

Later in the day, he will join the programme for the inauguration of the Torana Gate, interact with corporate Malaysia, and visit the Batu Caves Temple.

Prime Minister Modi, earlier in Malaysia, had condemned the recent string of terror attacks across the globe, and said it was a dark shadow that is spreading fast and called for a new global resolve to combat terrorism.

“Prime Minister Modi has big plans to develop India especially in the construction of infrastructure, railway development, highway development, smart cities, digital India, solar energy, renewable energy and so forth”, Razak said during his joint address with Prime Minister Modi here.

India and Malaysia have agreed to have the next meeting of the joint commission established between the two countries sometime in the first half of next year.

“This Torana isn’t merely a bit of artwork on stone”.

Razak described the gate as a logo of India-Malaysia friendship.

Najib also pointed out that many Malaysians had received their education in India, particularly in medicine. “This is connecting two nations & illustrates the two great cultures”.

Modi wrapped up his three-day visit to Malaysia said the gate “will be a milestone in our relations”.

Najib also applauded Modi’s leadership, saying that he was a man of action, who wanted things implemented expeditiously. “But we also have to work within our societies and with our youth”, the Prime Minister added.