From Kuvineshwaren Nedunjelian
NEW DELHI, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia regards India as a key strategic partner, with ties rooted in historical and cultural links and strengthened by growing political ties and economic cooperation, said Malaysian High Commissioner to India Datuk Muzafar Shah Mustafa.
He said bilateral relations are expected to gain further momentum at the upcoming ASEAN Summit and ASEAN-India Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
"Last year, our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made an official visit to India. That was when our bilateral relations were upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership during the visit.
"In terms of economy, we have a very strong relationship with India. India is currently the 11th largest trading partner. Among ASEAN countries, Malaysia is the third-largest trading partner," he told reporters at a dinner hosted by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs' Additional Secretary and Spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, in honour of visiting media delegates from ASEAN countries.
A total of 25 journalists from nine Southeast Asian countries - Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam - are currently on a familiarisation visit to India from Sept 23 to Oct 2, organised by the Indian External Affairs Ministry.
Muzafar Shah said the ASEAN Summit offers another opportunity to deepen ASEAN-India relations under the Act East policy, which emphasises regional cooperation.
He said ASEAN has been a priority for India under its Act East policy, and cooperation now extends beyond the economy to include regional stability and security.
"This is also in line with ASEAN's Indo-Pacific Outlook and India's own Indo-Pacific initiatives," he added.
He noted that India is emerging as a significant global player and is projected to become the world's third-largest economy by 2027 in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), overtaking Germany and Japan.
The 47th ASEAN Summit and related summits, scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur this October, are expected to be among the most significant gatherings in recent years.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among the world leaders slated to attend.
-- BERNAMA
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