“Our agreements on cyber security are very important”, Modi said at a joint press conference with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak following the talks between the two leaders on the last day of the prime minister’s three-day visit to the country.
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“As our lives get more networked, this is emerging as one of the most serious concerns of our age”, Mr Modi said, describing the cooperation as “very important”.
“The world must come together to combat the biggest challenge of our times…We can strengthen intelligence cooperation, we can use military force, we can make global legal systems for making cooperation stronger”, he said.
Malaysia and India also agreed to continue sharing of information and best practices to address the challenges posed by terrorism and other “traditional and non-traditional threats”.
The same day, the two premiers – Modi and Lee – will sign the India-Singapore Strategic Partnership to boost bilateral ties.
India and Singapore decided in October to revive a Joint Working Group on Intelligence Cooperation on Combating Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime, so greater defense and intelligence co-operation will be high on the agenda during the visit.
A cultural extravaganza showcasing the best of Indian and Malaysian talent preceded Modi’s speech.
Our relations are broad based, it includes field of education as many Malaysians have been educated in India.
He said the Indian government has opened nine visa collection centres in Malaysia. “The Trilateral (India-Myanmar-Thailand) Highway project is making good progress and should be completed by 2018”, he said.
Modi said the gate will be a milestone in India’s relations with Malaysia.
“Singapore is an integral part of our Look East Policy and it was announced from there by our former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao”.
He also sought an early conclusion of a regional comprehensive economic partnership.
According to the joint statement, the two countries have agreed to the Su-30 Forum “for cooperation in training, maintenance, technical support and safety-related issues, building on the assistance by India for successful completion” of the Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 fighter aircraft training programme by Indian pilots in Malaysia. “But we also have to work within our societies and with our youth”, the Prime Minister added.
Modi said India and Malaysia are “defined by diversity and democracy” and vowed to make stronger the strategic cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation.
He said that since his government assumed office 18 months ago, no region has seen greater engagement from India than the Asia Pacific and the Indian Ocean Region.
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Malaysia and India also welcomed the outcome of the joint exercise, Harimau Shakti, and to upgrade the exercise to company level, and subsequently to tri-services exercises.
