VERBATIM TEXT

 

OPENING REMARKS BY

 

THE HONOURABLE DATO’ SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM

PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA

 

AT THE

 

22^nd ASEAN – INDIA SUMMIT

 

 

Namaskar.

1. Now, can I call the meeting to order? Thank you very much.

 

2. We are very pleased today, on behalf of ASEAN leaders, to continue our deliberations and collaboration with India. And we have the ASEAN-India Plan of Action 2026–2030.

 

3. We want to conclude the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) by this year. So, there has been some real progress.

 

4. And India, I mean, I must say, not only for Malaysia — Malaysia, of course, there has always been this special relation with India, partly because we have a large number of ethnic Indians in Malaysia – but also in terms of trade, investments, collaboration, and universities with India.

 

5. That is why I’m particularly delighted to have Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is a friend of ASEAN and me personally, and I think, thank you very much. Welcome to this ASEAN meeting.

 

6. And we’ve had a series of meetings today, and ASEAN–India dialogue relations, for us, remain a force for stability and mutual prosperity. And with your strides in economic advancement in various fields, I am sure you will be beneficial both to India and ASEAN.

 

7. It is my honour, therefore, to invite my respected Prime Minister, Pradhan Mantri of India, Narendra Modi, to deliver his opening remarks. Please.