New Delhi/Kuala Lumpur, Feb 4 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated for an official visit to Malaysia later this week, responding to an invitation from Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim, as confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday.

This visit on February 7-8 marks Prime Minister Modi's third trip to Malaysia and is particularly significant as it follows the enhancement of the India-Malaysia bilateral relationship to a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ in August 2024.

During his time in Malaysia, the MEA has indicated that PM Modi will engage in bilateral talks with his Malaysian counterpart, as well as connect with members of the Indian community and industry representatives.

Coinciding with the Prime Minister’s visit, the 10th India-Malaysia CEO Forum will also take place.

According to a statement from the MEA, India and Malaysia share a long-standing friendship rooted in historical, civilizational, and cultural ties. This relationship is further enriched by a robust 2.9 million-strong Indian diaspora in Malaysia, which is the third largest globally.

The India-Malaysia partnership is diverse and expanding. The upcoming visit presents an opportunity for both leaders to evaluate the range of bilateral cooperation, which encompasses trade and investment, defense, security and maritime cooperation, digital and financial technology, energy, healthcare, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people relations, while also establishing a roadmap for future collaboration for mutual benefit.

In October, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Haji Hasan during the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, where they discussed ongoing developments in bilateral cooperation.

During their meeting, EAM Jaishankar and Mohamad Haji Hasan also reviewed the situation in Myanmar.

Malaysia hosted the 47th ASEAN Summit and related sessions under the theme of 'Inclusivity and Sustainability'.

Representing Prime Minister Modi, the EAM attended the 20th East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

In the same month, during a virtual address at the 22nd India-ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, PM Modi proclaimed that the 21st century belongs to India and ASEAN, highlighting the deep historical, cultural, and civilizational links uniting the two regions.

This summit, chaired by Malaysia, marked PM Modi's 12th consecutive participation in the annual dialogue, providing a platform for leaders to gauge progress and foster deeper collaboration. In his opening remarks, PM Modi extended warm wishes to Timor-Leste upon its official induction as ASEAN’s 11th member, pledging India's commitment to its human development.

He reaffirmed India’s dedication to ASEAN Unity, ASEAN Centrality, and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, while commending the bloc’s adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. Regarding economic cooperation, PM Modi called for a swift review of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AITIGA) to maximize trade relations, benefiting over two billion people and bolstering regional resilience.

In his virtual address, Prime Minister Modi condemned terrorism as a significant threat to global peace and urged for unified international action. In alignment with the theme of 'Inclusivity and Sustainability' under Malaysian chairmanship, PM Modi introduced a series of initiatives, including India’s strong support for the ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2026-2030).