COMMENT | In New Delhi, I had a fruitful day with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We agreed that the relationship between India and Malaysia is currently at a historic high.

Our 60 year bilateral relations continue to grow as we reap benefits from the strategic partnership we have established with India.

I would like to share some of the outcomes from the meeting with Prime Minister Modi.

In terms of defence and security cooperation, Malaysia will continue to work closely and enhance cooperation with India to ensure our respective nations and region will remain peaceful. We also reaffirmed our commitment to fight any form of terrorism and extremism.

Prime Minister Modi was particularly interested with Malaysia’s deradicalisation programme and we are more than happy to share our knowledge and experience with India.

In light of the development on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, we need a fresh free trade agreement to revitalise trade among nations not just around the region but around the world as well.

Prime Minister Modi and I agreed that the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) needs to be revitalised to make it more effective while the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement becomes more and more relevant today. I hope, with encouragement from India, RCEP will be able to take place at an earlier date.

Yesterday at the Hyderabad House, I witnessed the signing of six memoranda of understanding and one agreement between Malaysia. The MOUs and agreement cover a diverse area of cooperation between the two nations -

a) Memorandum of understanding on cooperation on the proposed development of a urea and ammonia manufacturing plant in Malaysia and offtake of existing surplus urea from Malaysia to India;

(b) Memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of sports;

(c) Memorandum of understanding between Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi and Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), Malaysia on Mutual Recognition of the Educational Qualifications;

(d) Memorandum of understanding between Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad and Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India;

(e) Memorandum of understanding between Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) and Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) on Collaboration in Technology Development in the Field of Palm Oil;

(f) Memorandum of understanding between Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEBD) and Might Technology Nurturing Sdn Bhd on the Implementation of Fourth Generation Technology Park in the State of Andhra Pradesh, India; and

(g) Air services agreement between the government of Malaysia and the government of India.

The MOUs and agreement are just an example of the many other forms of collaboration between Malaysia and India.

The proposed development of a urea and ammonia manufacturing plant in particular, is a significant project proposal that Malaysia fully supports.

Prime Minister Modi and I also spoke on smart cities and the Digital India initiative which would provide plenty of opportunities for Malaysian businesses to explore. Cooperation in terms of education and tourism will continue to be deepened and strengthened.

These are some of the outcomes from my official visit to India.

This article first appeared on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s blog.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.