During his official visit to Malaysia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that India will maintain a firm stance against terrorism, with "no double standards and no compromise". Modi emphasized the need for stronger security cooperation between India and Malaysia, particularly in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, and maritime security.
The Prime Minister highlighted the deep-rooted connections between the two nations, remarking on their shared maritime boundaries, cultural heritage, and commitment to democratic values. He also acknowledged Malaysia's significant Indian diaspora, the second largest in the world, further strengthening the bond between the countries. Modi credited his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, for fostering a new momentum in India-Malaysia relations in recent years.
Both leaders agreed to enhance collaboration across various sectors, including defense, trade, the digital economy, and energy. They also emphasized the importance of existing trade agreements and encouraged the use of local currencies for trade settlements to facilitate smoother economic exchanges. In 2025, bilateral trade between India and Malaysia reached $18.59 billion, demonstrating strong economic engagement.
To further strengthen ties, India and Malaysia have agreed to expand their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This includes cooperation in science, technology, agriculture, health, education, tourism, and youth exchanges. A range of agreements and documents were exchanged, covering cooperation in disaster management, audiovisual co-production, combating corruption, semiconductor development, and health and medicine. Initiatives aimed at expanding university exchanges, skill development, and start-up engagement were also discussed. India has announced the establishment of a Thiruvalluvar Centre to promote academic research and studies. Additionally, the countries agreed on cross-border payments cooperation between NPCI International Payments Ltd and Malaysia's PAYNET.
Deepening defense and security cooperation remains a key focus, with both countries vowing to strengthen collaboration in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, and maritime security. Both leaders expressed zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and called for concerted international efforts to combat it. India and Malaysia will also work together to counter radicalization and violent extremism, combat the financing of terrorism, and prevent the use of new technologies for terrorist purposes.
Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to ASEAN and congratulated Malaysia on its chairmanship of ASEAN. He also stated that both countries have agreed to complete the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement at the earliest. Modi highlighted India's dedication to fostering development, peace, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region alongside ASEAN.