India-Malaysia share special relationship: Modi, Anwar Ibrahim agree to expand defence, trade ties

Following the discussions, PM Modi said the two nations enjoy a close and enduring partnership and pledged to deepen collaboration across strategic and economic sectors.

"India and Malaysia share a special relationship. We are maritime neighbours. For centuries, our people have had deep and affectionate ties,"  the Indian PM said.

"India and Malaysia are also bound together by a shared love for the Tamil language. The strong and vibrant presence of Tamil in Malaysia is clearly visible in education, media, and cultural life," he said.

Reiterating India’s zero-tolerance approach to terrorism, Modi said there could be “no double standards and no compromise” in efforts to counter extremist threats.

Modi arrived in Malaysia on Saturday and was welcomed with a red-carpet reception by Ibrahim at the airport.

He was later accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Malaysian prime minister’s office, Perdana Putra, ahead of the bilateral talks.

Highlighting historical and cultural links, Modi said India and Malaysia are maritime neighbours with centuries-old ties rooted in shared heritage and strong people-to-people connections. He noted that Malaysia is home to one of the world’s largest populations of Indian origin.

"The Indo-Pacific region is emerging as the growth engine of the world. We are committed to development, peace and stability across the entire Indo-Pacific region together with ASEAN," he said.

The two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing and maritime security, while expanding defence engagement to cover new areas.

Modi said both countries would also accelerate partnerships in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and semiconductors, as well as in health and food security.

Referring to regional developments, Modi described the Indo-Pacific as a major driver of global growth and said India remains committed to promoting peace, stability and development across the region in collaboration with ASEAN.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia and India are steadily broadening cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity and defence, and praised India’s growing economic and global influence.

India’s External Affairs Ministry said the talks reflected the depth of bilateral ties anchored in shared civilisational links and people-to-people exchanges, adding that the visit has injected renewed momentum into India–Malaysia relations.