Malaysia accords official welcome for Modi

PUTRAJAYA: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (pix), who is here for a maiden official visit to Malaysia after assuming his post in 2014, was accorded an official welcome at Dataran Perdana, here today.

Modi, who arrived in Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur on Saturday to attend the 27th Asean Summit and Related Summits, was greeted by his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak upon arrival at 9.40am, before the national anthems of both countries were played.

Modi then inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by 106 officers and men from the 1st Batallion of the Royal Malay Regiment.

Also present at the ceremony were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, cabinet ministers, foreign diplomats and senior government officials.

Modi and Najib then proceeded for a four-eyed meeting to review both countries' existing relations and cooperation as well as to identify potential areas of the Strategic Partnership established between the two countries in October 2010.

Malaysia and India had enjoyed warm and wide ranging substantive relations based on historical, cultural and economic links which had brought about mutual benefits to both countries.

As a symbol of India-Malaysia friendship, both Prime Ministers will officiate the Torana Gate in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, which is a gift from India to Malaysia. — Bernama