SOURCE: ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his brother, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is on a state visit to India, say there are many areas that Malaysia and India need to explore further. Describing India as an important country, the Malaysian Prime Minister said that both countries talk to each other as true brothers on all issues, whether sensitive or not, as this is the true meaning of friendship.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi is my brother. Even when I was not prime minister, he was very kind… We have agreed to strengthen the further comprehensive strategic partnership…” the Malaysian prime minister said in a joint press statement with PM Modi today.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that India and Malaysia have upgraded their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
“We will revive this working relationship in all areas… We discuss all issues, sensitive or indifferent, as true brothers, because this is the true meaning of friendship. We have developed understanding on some issues and the prime minister kindly mentioned some of them. But I have said, as we have said in the meetings, that we will expand this,” Malaysian Prime Minister Ibrahim said.
“I personally believe, and I have said this to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that there are so many areas that we need to explore further, and it is unfortunate that nothing has really happened in the last few years. India is an important and great country with a great history and great culture and civilisation…” he added.
He further stated that Malaysia has initiated many new programmes and he invites Indian companies to collaborate in Malaysia.
Ibrahim said: “We hope that Indian companies will further collaborate with Malaysian companies in all areas, including the new challenging areas such as energy transition, digitalisation and also food security. We have emphasised that we need to utilise both our experience and expertise in the semiconductor space, where we are fortunate to be considered as a hub in Southeast Asia…” Ibrahim had arrived in the national capital today on a state visit, his first to India as Prime Minister of Malaysia. He was warmly received by Minister of State V Somanna at the airport.
He also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi by laying a wreath at Delhi’s Rajghat after his meeting with PM Modi. Ibrahim also signed the guest book at the Rajghat.