Kuala lumpur: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to Malaysia yielded wide-ranging outcomes that are set to deepen bilateral ties and deliver tangible benefits to both countries, India's Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (East) P Kumaran said.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the visit, which concludes today, was significant as it marked nearly a decade since Modi's previous official visit to Malaysia in 2015, when bilateral relations were elevated to an enhanced strategic partnership. Recalling Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's visit to India in 2024, Kumaran said the trip gave renewed momentum to bilateral cooperation, with the partnership subsequently upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Kumaran emphasized the successful outcomes of the visit, noting the broad spectrum of subjects addressed and their potential positive impact on both nations. He stated, "There is reason to be satisfied that our cooperation is proceeding very well. The outcomes of this visit are of immense significance, not only because of the range and diversity of subjects covered but also the positive impact they will bring to our people, and therefore reflect the true spirit of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership."
During the visit, both prime ministers engaged in bilateral discussions at Seri Perdana, reviewing cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, defence, security, digital and financial technologies, renewable energy, education, healthcare, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues before witnessing the exchange of several bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding.
These agreements cover cooperation in fields like semiconductors, health and medicine, security, technical and vocational education, disaster management, social security, and audiovisual collaboration, along with the renewal of the memorandum of understanding on United Nations peacekeeping cooperation.
On the topic of cross-border QR payment systems, Kumaran mentioned ongoing discussions to link India's Unified Payments Interface with Malaysia's payment systems. He noted that while the initiative involves multiple technical steps and safeguards, "Once the technical steps get completed it will be operationalised," highlighting the benefits for tourists and workers through seamless cross-border payments and remittances.
Addressing counter-terrorism efforts, Kumaran said cooperation between the two countries remains robust, supported by joint working groups, security dialogues, and intelligence-sharing mechanisms.
Modi concluded his two-day official visit to Malaysia on Sunday at the invitation of Anwar, who visited India in 2024.