TRADE, DEFENCE, DIGITAL AND SECURITY COOPERATION FIGURE IN INDIA–MALAYSIA TALKS

New Delhi, Feb 08, 2026 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held official talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, during which both leaders agreed to further strengthen the India–Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2024.

Prime Minister Modi was received by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the Perdana Putra Complex and accorded a ceremonial welcome. The two leaders subsequently held restricted and delegation-level meetings at Seri Perdana, the official residence of the Malaysian Prime Minister.

During the talks, the leaders recalled the age-old civilisational ties between India and Malaysia and underlined the strong people-to-people bonds that form the foundation of the bilateral partnership. They reviewed the entire spectrum of relations, including trade and investment, defence and security, maritime cooperation, clean energy, infrastructure, start-ups, agriculture, education, health, Ayurveda, tourism and cultural exchanges.

Both sides also discussed expanding cooperation in emerging areas such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence. The leaders welcomed steady progress in digital cooperation through the bilateral Digital Council and noted the agreement between UPI and PayNet to strengthen fintech collaboration.

Prime Minister Modi emphasised the importance of strengthening youth linkages through parliamentary and university exchanges. He welcomed existing academic cooperation between Nalanda University and Universiti Malaya, as well as between IIT Madras and the Advanced Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia. He noted that the opening of India’s first Consulate in Malaysia would further enhance commercial engagement and people-to-people ties.

The two leaders exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including reforms in global governance, developments in the Indo-Pacific and the expanding India–ASEAN partnership. Prime Minister Modi called for the review of the ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to be completed at the earliest.

Prime Minister Modi congratulated Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Malaysia’s successful chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025. In turn, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim conveyed his good wishes and support for India’s BRICS Presidency in 2026.

The Prime Minister thanked the Malaysian leadership for its strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack and the Red Fort blast and called for continued close cooperation in counter-terrorism.

Following the talks, several bilateral agreements were exchanged, covering areas such as digital payments, security cooperation, semiconductors, health and medicine, disaster management, combating corruption, audio-visual co-production, technical and vocational education, UN peacekeeping cooperation and social security for Indian workers. Malaysia also completed procedures for its accession to the International Big Cat Alliance.

The leaders also took note of the outcome document of the 10th India–Malaysia CEO Forum, which was held on February 7 on the margins of the visit.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim hosted a luncheon in honour of Prime Minister Modi. The Indian Prime Minister thanked his Malaysian counterpart for the warm hospitality and extended an invitation to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to visit India.