(Putrajaya, 8th) Indian Prime Minister Modi, who is on a two-day official visit to Malaysia, attended an official welcoming ceremony at the Putrajaya Prime Minister's Office on Sunday morning (February 8).
Modi arrived at 9:08 a.m. and was greeted by Anwar; afterwards, both national anthems were played on site.
Modi inspected a guard of honour composed of 3 officers and 103 soldiers from the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment Ceremonial Unit, commanded by Major Mohamad Fikri, with the band led by Captain Mohamad Fahmi from the Central Band of the Royal Malay Regiment.
Among those present were Minister of Communications and Multimedia Datuk Fahmi, Minister of Digital Gobind Singh, Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Saifuddin, several cabinet ministers, foreign diplomats, and senior government officials.
Anwar and Modi will later hold bilateral talks at the Prime Minister's residence, followed by an official luncheon.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier indicated that Modi is making this two-day official visit to Malaysia at Anwar's invitation this weekend, and that this trip is a return visit after Anwar's official visit to India in August 2024.
This is also Modi's third visit to Malaysia, and his first visit since the two countries elevated their relationship to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” in August 2024.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier indicated that Modi is making this two-day official visit to Malaysia at Anwar's invitation this weekend, and that this trip is a return visit after Anwar's official visit to India in August 2024.
This is also Modi's third visit to Malaysia, and his first visit since the two countries elevated their relationship to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” in August 2024.
This visit by Modi is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations and deepen cooperation in mutually beneficial areas, further consolidating the long-standing friendship between Malaysia and India that has been established since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1957.
The two leaders will conduct bilateral talks today to review the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and plan new directions for cooperation.
The talks will also focus on multiple areas of cooperation, including trade and investment, defense and security, labor, tourism, connectivity, agriculture and education, as well as regional and international issues of common concern.
After the talks conclude, the leaders of both countries will witness the signing and exchange of multiple agreements and cooperation documents, reflecting the continuous deepening of institutional linkages between Malaysia and India.
Malaysia and India have a profound history, civilization, and cultural ties, especially considering that Malaysia has a strong community of about 2.9 million people of Indian descent, the third largest overseas Indian community in the world.
Economic relations between the two countries continue to show strong momentum, with total bilateral trade reaching RM79.49 billion (USD 18.59 billion) in 2025.
Malaysia's exports to India were RM52.3 billion (USD 12.24 billion), while imports stood at RM27.19 billion (USD 6.35 billion).
Major export items include palm oil and palm oil products, as well as electrical and electronic products, while Malaysia's main imports from India are agricultural products, petroleum products, and chemical products.