Visit follows up on discussions during 6th India-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting held in New Delhi recently
Cooperation under the India-Malaysia Enhanced Strategic Partnership was discussed at length during the recent visit of Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh to the Southeast Asian nation from November 30 to December 2, 2023.
 
During the visit, MoS Singh called on Malaysian Minister of Human Resources V Sivakumar. He also held bilateral meetings with Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Datuk Mohamad bin Alamin, Deputy Minister for Higher Education Dato’ Haji Mohammad Yusof bin Apdal, and Deputy Minister for Entrepreneur Development & Cooperatives Saraswathy Kandasami.
 
These meetings saw MoS Singh discuss topics ranging from cooperation in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector and collaboration in higher education to issues related to workers’ repatriation and employment.
 
"These meetings furthered the understandings reached between External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Foreign Minister of Malaysia H.E. Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir during the 6th India-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting held recently in New Delhi," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday (December 4, 2023).
 
SERIES OF ENGAGEMENTS IN MALAYSIA
 
On December 1, 2023, MOS Singh and Deputy Minister Kandasami attended the inauguration of the first ever Global Organisation for People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) International Business Summit & Expo. Along with Minister Sivakumar, he also participated in the GOPIO International Business Excellence Awards ceremony on December 2.
 
The event recognised successful businesses led by members of the Indian diaspora, from Malaysia and other countries. He also interacted with the office bearers of GOPIO Malaysia and GOPIO International and discussed issues of interest to PIOs, the MEA said.

Additionally, MOS Singh attended ‘Bhakti – The Musical’, a cultural programme at the Temple of Fine Arts, Kuala Lumpur. The event was organised by the High Commission of India (HCI) in Kuala Lumpur as part of ‘Promotion of Cultural Ties with Diaspora (PCTD) Scheme’ of the MEA & Indian Council for Cultural Relations. It highlighted the compositions of great saints of the Bhakti movement in India.

While in Malaysia, MOS Singh inaugurated the Indian Workers Resource Centre (IWRC) at the High Commission of India. The centre will cater to welfare-related activities for Indian workers. He also interacted with a group of Indian workers in Malaysia.

Also on the itinerary was a visit to the historic site of Selangor Padang where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose gave an inspirational speech to 60,000 people in September 1943. He felicitated Indian National Army (INA) veterans. He also visited the iconic Torana Gate in Kuala Lumpur, a symbol of enduring friendship between India and Malaysia.
 
The visit has contributed to strengthening cooperation under the India-Malaysia Enhanced Strategic Partnership established during the visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Malaysia in 2015, the MEA said.
 
STABLE AND PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP 
 
The Enhanced Strategic Partnership between India and Malaysia is a cornerstone of India's 'Act East Policy'. This alliance aims to deepen bilateral ties, particularly in defence and security.
 
In July 2023, India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Malaysia marked a defining step in this direction, emphasizing the need for stable and productive ties, especially in the face of regional security challenges and the geopolitical dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region
 
Both countries have amended the 1993 Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation to expand bilateral defense cooperation in areas of mutual interest. This amendment facilitates greater collaboration in defense, improving democratic values and the rule of law
 
The partnership also focuses on leveraging the strategic locations of both nations. For instance, India's strategic dominance in the Andaman Sea and Nicobar Islands enhances maritime security in the region, countering potential unilateral violations of international maritime law