Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S Jaishankar and Defence Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh are all set to welcome their counterparts from Malaysia and Japan in New Delhi. The meetings are expected to strengthen the diplomatic relations among the Asian countries.
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India-Malaysia relations
India and Malaysia share a common history and culture. The rich diversity of Malaysia has not only accepted the Indian immigrant in its fold but has maintained strong relations with India. Currently, India and Malaysia enjoy strong political, economic as well as socio-cultural relations. Malaysia has a great deal of goodwill for India at the people-to-people level and it hosts the third largest PIO community in the world.
The political and economic relations between India and Malaysia have deepened in the last few decades, with engagements covering a wide range of bilateral relationships (political, economic & trade, defense, inter-personal, tourism, education, health, human resources, public administration, etc.). Both countries are witnessing vitality which has continued to grow by leaps and bounds for many years.
India-Japan relations
The bond between India and Japan is ancient, built on spiritual affinity and strong cultural-civilizational ties. The history of India-Japan relations includes economic investment, defense partnership, and technological collaboration. Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) to India focuses on infrastructural support and strategic completion of mega projects. Among the key aspects of the India-Japan bilateral digital partnership is Japanese investment in Indian companies involved in emerging technologies. Japan is India’s 6th largest foreign direct investor, contributing to infrastructure and sectoral growth.
Japan views New Delhi as crucial to its economic-revival plan. While India has the world’s largest young population, Japan’s workforce is declining. Japan brings technology and wealth, while India provides human capital and a vast market.
The upcoming meeting
India-Malaysia: Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to New Delhi in the upcoming week is expected to take India-Malaysia strategic cooperation in trade and defence to the next level, The two PMs will also express their views on important developments in Bangladesh, Gaza, and Iran. It will also aim to solve the problems that arose due to India during the previous Malaysian governments which led to a bad time in the relationship. Mr Ibrahim, a moderate reformer, in his 2019 visit to India as a representative of Mahathir Mohamad’s administration called for stronger bilateral relations.
To the dismay of the hosts, Mr Mohamad chastised the Modi administration on subjects such as Jammu and Kashmir and the CAA. The Mohamad regime also denied India’s concern to hand over Zakir Naik, a preacher sought after in India on charges of terrorism, and as a result of this India stopped the import of palm oil from Malaysia. In 2020, tensions were heightened as New Delhi, India captured 2,500 foreigners primarily from Malaysia and Indonesia following their attendance at the “Tablighi Jamaat.”
However, with Mr. Ibrahim’s win, the two countries have recommitted to each other, as was the case when External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar went to Kuala Lumpur earlier this year and hailed Mr. Ibrahim’s vision of a bold bilateral agenda.
India-Japan: Kicking off shortly after Mr. Ibrahim lands in Delhi, his visit will precede the India-Japan 2+2 talks, involving External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defence Minister Minoru Kihara. At this 2+2, the two sides, who last met in 2020, are expected to hold talks on the India-Japan strategic partnership, including security and defence-cooperation, the Indo-Pacific, and Quad cooperation.
They will also exchange views on the current situation in Bangladesh, where India and Japan have harmonised their infrastructure initiatives under Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” vision.
While a Quad summit in the next few months appears difficult due to Mr. Kishida’s leadership battle within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party at the end of September and U.S. elections in early November, sources say that one key item in the 2+2 will be to discuss when India could host the summit, which could take place as soon as possible if welcomed by all four countries involved.
