India, Malaysia enter a comprehensive partnership
India and Malaysia on Tuesday elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim held extensive talks focusing on expanding cooperation in several sectors, including trade, investment and defence.
A pact on promoting recruitment of Indian workers in Malaysia and protection of their interests was one of the at least eight agreements inked between the two sides.
The pact on recruitment of Indian workers assumes significance as illegal immigration and human trafficking from India to Malaysia are among major concerns of the two governments.
Ibrahim began his three-day visit to India on Monday night in his first trip to the country as the prime minister.
“Today, we have decided that our partnership will be elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” Modi said in his media statement.
The prime minister said the agreement on employment of workers will promote the recruitment of Indians as well as the protection of their interests.