Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's official visit to India from this Friday until next Tuesday underlines the strong bilateral relations between the two countries, which have been established for 60 years.

The visit, at the invitation of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be Najib's third to India since assuming office as prime minister in 2009.

According to a statement released by the Communications and Public Diplomacy Division of the Foreign Ministry yesterday, the visit would provide opportunities for both Malaysia and India to exchange views on a range of bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

During the visit Najib is scheduled to visit Chennai, New Delhi and Jaipur.

Najib will be accompanied by his wife Rosmah Mansor, Foreign Affairs Minister Anifah Aman, cabinet ministers and senior government officials.

In New Delhi, Najib will be accorded an official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace, make a courtesy call on the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, followed by a restricted meeting with his Indian counterpart and a bilateral meeting with senior members of both delegations.

A joint press conference will be held before the official dinner hosted by Prime Minister Modi in honour of Najib and Rosmah.

"Issues that are expected to be discussed during the bilateral meeting include trade and investment, infrastructure projects, defence cooperation, air services arrangements, tourism and culture relations as well as issues of mutual concern on regional and international cooperation.

"Several government-to-government memoranda of understanding and documents are set to be signed and exchanged during the visit. The exchange of the documents will be witnessed by both Prime Minister Najib and Prime Minister Modi," the statement said.

Dialogues with captains of industries

Apart from the bilateral meetings, Najib will be holding dialogue sessions with leaders and captains of industries from major business sectors in India and is scheduled to attend a business luncheon and the 7th Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council Meeting (GSIAC).

Najib's programme in Chennai includes an official reception hosted by the Acting Governor of Tamil Nadu, Vidhyasagar Rao, and a meeting with the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi Palaniswamy.

The prime minister will also use this opportunity to have a dialogue session with the Malaysian community, including students.

Najib will also travel to Jaipur to oversee Malaysia's participation in India's infrastructure projects.

He is scheduled to meet with Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje Scindia, and attend a high level discussion on the progress of Malaysian companies in infrastructure projects in Jaipur.

"On the last day of the visit, the prime minister will also officiate the newly completed complex of the High Commission of Malaysia in New Delhi," the statement said.

It added that Malaysia is optimistic that the visit would further strengthen the existing friendly ties between Malaysia and India, not only in the areas of bilateral cooperation but also on regional and international issues.

- Bernama