Malaysia , Feb 8 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed heartfelt gratitude to Malaysia for the warm and exceptional welcome extended to him during his visit to Kuala Lumpur, saying the hospitality would always remain in his memories.
PM Modi made the remarks after holding delegation-level talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, following a ceremonial welcome at Perdana Putra, the Malaysian Prime Minister’s office complex. The reception, which included a Guard of Honour, reflected the importance attached to the visit by the host nation.
Thanking the Malaysian leadership, PM Modi said the welcome went beyond traditional customs and beautifully showcased Malaysian life and culture.
“I express my heartfelt gratitude to you. The way you welcomed me and my delegation, and the way Malaysian life was presented so beautifully in these few hours, going beyond traditional customs, and the excellent manner in which everything was organised — it will always remain in our memories,” the Prime Minister said.
Earlier, PM Modi shared glimpses of the ceremonial welcome on social media platform X, highlighting the strengthening partnership between the two countries. He said India and Malaysia continue to deepen ties rooted in trust, friendship, and shared aspirations.
The ceremonial reception followed PM Modi’s arrival in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, where he was personally received at the airport by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Several senior Malaysian ministers were also present. The arrival ceremony featured a red-carpet welcome along with traditional music and dance performances, celebrating shared cultural links.
Reacting to the airport reception, PM Modi had said he was deeply touched by the warm welcome and looked forward to discussions aimed at further strengthening India–Malaysia ties.
As part of the visit, PM Modi and Anwar Ibrahim travelled together to an Indian community programme in Kuala Lumpur, underscoring the strong people-to-people connect between the two nations.
The two leaders later held wide-ranging bilateral discussions, which are expected to lead to multiple agreements aimed at expanding cooperation across sectors such as defence, security, trade, innovation, and technology.
Ahead of the visit, PM Modi said India and Malaysia’s historic ties have made steady progress in recent years and stressed the need to further enhance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He noted that the discussions would focus on deepening defence and security cooperation, strengthening economic and innovation partnerships, and expanding collaboration into new areas.
This is PM Modi’s third visit to Malaysia and his first since India and Malaysia elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in August 2024. The two countries share long-standing ties shaped by common history, civilisation, and culture, further strengthened by Malaysia’s Indian-origin population of around 2.9 million, one of the largest overseas Indian communities in the world.
