India, Malaysia to enhance military ties
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Malaysian counterpart Najeeb Razak during the launching ceremony of Little India project in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, on Wednesday. Image Credit: Reuters
Kuala Lumpur: India and Malaysia yesterday pledged to elevate their deepening relationship to a long-term and strategic partnership that would include promoting military ties and jointly fighting terror.
Prime ministers Manmohan Singh of India and Najeeb Razak of Malaysia decided among other things to enhance military exchanges and cooperation through regular exchanges of defence ministers and military officials.
A joint statement on the Framework for India-Malaysia Strategic Partnership issued on Manmohan Singh's penultimate day in Malaysia covered a wide range of areas ranging from economy to defence. He arrived in Kuala Lumpur for a three-day trip Tuesday.
In a clear sign that they were taking their ties to a new high, they said their chiefs of armed forces would exchange visits while there would be "regular Service-to-Service Staff Talks and regular ships' visits".
The two leaders agreed to explore joint collaboration on projects of mutual interest in the defence sector on the basis of experience gained by both sides during the completion of the SU 30 MKM training programme.
Malaysia said it looked forward to participation from the Indian defence industry at the soon to be established Malaysian Defence and Security Park. Both sides also agreed to support each other's defence exhibitions.
Mutual stake
Both leaders recalled that India and Malaysia had a mutual stake in the progress and prosperity of the other.
They expressed their desire to elevate bilateral relations to the level of a long-term and strategic partnership based on mutual equality and mutual understanding.
The two prime ministers agreed to maintain regular dialogue and contact at the summit level and at international conferences.
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