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Modi names Malaysia key partner in India's regional strategy

Modi names Malaysia key partner in India's regional strategy

New Straits Times16 hours ago
KUALA LUMPUR: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described Malaysia as a vital partner in India's Vision Mahasagar and Act East Policy, underscoring its strategic importance to the region.
In a posting on his personal X account @narendramodi, Modi said he met his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the sidelines of the 17th Brics Summit in Brazil.
Modi said they reviewed the ground covered in bilateral relations, including the progress made since Anwar's visit to India last year.
"Bilateral ties are growing strongly in futuristic sectors like IT, renewable energy and infrastructure. (We also) discussed how to improve investment and trade relations between our nations," he said.
Modi announced Vision Mahasagar or "Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions" for the Global South during his visit to Mauritius on March 12, this year.
The Mahasagar vision builds on the Sagar (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy that Modi first announced during his visit to Mauritius in 2015.
Sagar has guided India's engagement with the Indian Ocean region over the past decade.
Anwar arrived in Rio De Janeiro on Saturday to attend the 17th Brics Leaders' Summit hosted by Brazil.
Malaysia participated in the summit in its capacity as a Brics partner country and 2025 Asean chair.
The summit marks the first gathering among heads of state and government from Brics member and partner countries.
The Brics group, which serves as a political and diplomatic coordination forum for countries of the Global South and collaboration across diverse sectors, was initially established by Brazil, Russia, India and China.
It later expanded with the inclusion of South Africa in 2011, followed by Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2023.
Indonesia officially became a full member in January 2025 while 10 countries comprising Malaysia, Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Nigeria, Thailand, Vietnam, Uganda and Uzbekistan were accepted as Brics partner countries at the summit. — BERNAMA
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