India, Malaysia elevate ties, focus on new tech, AI

India and Malaysia elevated their bilateral ties to a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” the leaders of the two nations announced on Tuesday amid talks in New Delhi.

During their talks, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim also emphasized new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI).

Anwar is on a three-day state visit to India -- his first visit to the country since being elected in November 2022.

After the talks, Modi said both countries must increase collaboration “in new technological areas such as semiconductor, fintech, defence industry, AI and quantum.”

He said there is great scope for economic collaboration, and that bilateral business and investment should be expanded.

Emphasizing the centrality of the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN, Modi said: “We are committed to the freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law and peaceful resolution of all disputes."

The two sides held “wide-ranging talks to further intensify the multi-dimensional relationship,” Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said.

“Discussions covered various areas of bilateral cooperation, including trade and investment, defence, new and emerging technologies, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people ties,” he said.

Anwar, for his part, said: “We have agreed to enhance (bilateral relations) further and make it a comprehensive strategic partnership.”

Since the days of the first prime ministers of the two countries -- Jawaharlal Nehru and Tunku Abdul Rahman -- India and Malaysia have established good relations, he added, noting that ties must be further strengthened, particularly in digital, trade, construction, agriculture, and military areas.

On Tuesday, the two countries also signed memoranda of understanding and agreements.

India and Malaysia share strong historical and socio-cultural ties, the Indian Foreign Ministry said, adding: “Our bilateral relationship was elevated to the status of enhanced strategic partnership in 2015” during the visit of Prime Minister Modi.

The election of ties would “pave the way for further strengthening of India-Malaysia bilateral ties by charting out a multi-sectoral cooperation agenda for the future,” it also said.