Kuala Lumpur: India and Malaysia have agreed to deepen cooperation in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, maritime security, defence, artificial intelligence (AI), digital technologies and the semiconductor sector during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Malaysia.
Following wide-ranging talks with his Malaysian counterpart, Prime Minister Modi said both countries view the Indo-Pacific as an emerging engine of global growth and reaffirmed their commitment to peace, stability and development in the region in partnership with ASEAN. The two sides strongly opposed double standards on terrorism, asserting that terrorism in all its forms is unacceptable and that there can be no compromise in combating it.
In a joint statement after the talks, Prime Minister Modi described India–Malaysia ties as “special”, noting that the two nations are maritime neighbours with centuries-old people-to-people connections. He highlighted that Malaysia is home to the world’s second-largest population of people of Indian origin, underlining the shared civilisational heritage, cultural bonds and democratic values between the two countries.
The Prime Minister said both sides have agreed to further strengthen cooperation in security-related areas, including counter-terrorism mechanisms, intelligence exchange and maritime safety. Defence cooperation will also be expanded, alongside collaboration in emerging and future-oriented sectors such as AI, digital technology and semiconductors.
Modi also welcomed key initiatives aimed at benefiting citizens of both countries, including a social security agreement for the protection of Indian workers in Malaysia, the introduction of gratis e-visas to promote tourism, and the implementation of India’s digital payment interface UPI in Malaysia. He said these steps would make travel, work and financial transactions easier for people on both sides.
Highlighting cultural ties, the Prime Minister said India and Malaysia share a deep affection for the Tamil language, which has a strong and vibrant presence in Malaysia’s education system, media and cultural life.
On the global stage, Modi stressed the need for reforms in international institutions to effectively address contemporary challenges. Reiterating India’s position, he said New Delhi will continue to support all efforts for peace while firmly rejecting any double standards on terrorism.
“Our message is clear,” the Prime Minister said. “There can be no double standards on terrorism and no compromise in the fight against it.”
