India and Malaysia: Strengthening Ties

In a significant diplomatic development, H.E. Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, conducted an official visit to India from 05-08 November 2023, accompanied by senior officials of the Malaysian Government.

On 07 November, Foreign Minister Dr. Zambry held discussions with Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, followed by the co-chairing of the 6th India-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) alongside External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar. The JCM conducted a thorough review of bilateral cooperation across various sectors, including political, defense, security, maritime cooperation, trade and investment, health, energy, science and technology, culture, tourism, and people-to-people ties.

During the JCM, both nations expressed commitment to realizing the Enhanced Strategic Partnership between India and Malaysia. Efforts were pledged to deepen economic and defense engagements, with a focus on emerging areas such as digital public infrastructure, fintech, and semiconductors. Additionally, discussions encompassed regional, multilateral, and geopolitical issues of mutual interest.

The outcomes of the JCM included the signing/exchanging of:

(i) Agreed Minutes of the JCM;

(ii) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in Broadcasting between Prasar Bharti, India, and Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), Malaysia; and

(iii) Notes between Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS) and Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs (IDFR) on Cooperation in the Field of Training of Diplomats and Other Personnel.