New Delhi/Kuala Lumpur 07 February (H.S.): Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim accorded a heartfelt reception to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Saturday upon his arrival for a two-day official visit, underscoring the deepening camaraderie between the two leaders.
PM Modi's aircraft touched down around 5 p.m. local time, where Ibrahim awaited personally alongside Indian High Commissioner B.N. Reddy, officials, schoolchildren waving India-Malaysia flags, and cultural performers. A joint military guard of honour saluted Modi as artists presented traditional dances.
PM Modi posted on X: Landed in Kuala Lumpur. Deeply touched by the warm welcome from my friend, PM Anwar Ibrahim at the airport. Eager for our discussions to further strengthen the bonds of friendship between India and Malaysia.
Thereafter, PM Modi and PM Ibrahim proceeded to the Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre, where Modi addressed the diaspora community of nearly three million Indian-origin residents, over 2.7 million holding OCI cards, amid citywide celebratory cutouts and posters.
Sunday's Packed Diplomatic Agenda
PM Modi's official program unfolds Sunday with a 9 a.m. ceremonial welcome at Perdana Putra (Prime Minister's Office), followed by bilateral and delegation-level talks at Seri Perdana residence, culminating in agreements, press statements, and a hosted luncheon before Modi's return.
India-Malaysia ties, established diplomatically in 1957, thrive on profound historical and socio-cultural foundations; Malaysia anchors India's Act East Policy in ASEAN and Indo-Pacific spheres. The Brickfields Torana Gate—India's enduring friendship emblem, jointly inaugurated by Modi and then-PM Najib Razak on November 23, 2015—elevated relations to 'elevated strategic partnership,' further advancing to 'comprehensive strategic partnership' during Anwar's August 19-21, 2024 India visit.
Recent engagements include Modi's July 6, 2025 BRICS Summit meet in Rio de Janeiro, his virtual October 26, 2025 22nd ASEAN-India Summit in Kuala Lumpur, and October 22, 2025 phone call. Defense collaboration has burgeoned via joint exercises, training, and industrial ties, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's inaugural regional office in Kuala Lumpur during Rajnath Singh's 2023 visit.
Bilateral trade hit $19.85 billion in FY 2024-25, ranking Malaysia as India's third-largest ASEAN partner and India among Malaysia's top 10; rupee transactions facilitate exchanges.Liberalized visas—Malaysia's visa-free for Indians since December 2023, India's gratis tourist visas for Malaysians through December 2024—drew ~1.4 million Indian visitors to Malaysia and ~300,000 Malaysians to India in 2025, ASEAN's pinnacle.
Cultural milestones feature Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman's Ayurveda Centre (operational September 2024) and University of Malaya's Tiruvalluvar Chair for Indian Studies, emblematic of enduring synergy.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
