Delegation-level talks between India, Malaysia to be held today

The delegation-level talks between India and Malaysia will be held in Kuala Lumpur this morning, on the third and final day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country. Mr Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Perdana Square at Putrajaya a short while ago. Before the delegation-level talks, Mr Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with his Malaysian counterpart, Najib Razak.

The focus of today's talks is expected to be on further upgrading the strategic partnership, enhancing the trade and investment ties and expanding cooperation in areas like Defence and social sectors such as education and science and technology. Mr Modi and the Malaysian Prime Minister are likely to issue a joint statement over the enhanced strategic partnership.

Mr Modi will present a bust of Mahatma Gandhi to the Malaysian Prime Minister for installation



at the Gandhi Memorial Hall that Malaysia built at Kera state of Malaysia. The Prime Minister will also interact with Corporates of Malaysia and inaugurate a Thorana gate built at a cost of one million yen at Little India at brickfields where Indian diaspora lives in large numbers. He will visit the renowned Batu Caves temple

Presently India and Malaysia are sharing a trade of about 14 billion dollars a year and almost an equal amount of Foreign Direct Investment. The two sides will focus how to take this to further and explore possibilities of newer areas of cooperation like science and technology, iron and culture. The two countries are likely to sign a few Memoranda of Understanding including of Cyber Security today before the Prime Minister leaves for Singapore on his second leg of the two-nation visit this evening.