India and Malaysia recently convened their sixth Joint Commission Meeting (JCM), marking a significant juncture in their bilateral relationship. Chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Malaysian counterpart Zambry Abdul Kadir, the meeting aimed to assess and bolster cooperation in various sectors.
Jaishankar underscored Malaysia’s pivotal role as a strategic partner, emphasizing its status among India’s top 10 trading partners and the third-largest in ASEAN. The meeting, held after a 12-year hiatus, served as a crucial mechanism to take stock of the bilateral relationship, with the last JCM occurring in Kuala Lumpur in 2011.
The exploration of new areas of collaboration was a key focus during the JCM. Both nations expressed their commitment to realizing the Enhanced Strategic Partnership, with a specific emphasis on deepening economic and defense engagements. The deliberations extended to emerging sectors such as digital public infrastructure, fintech, and semiconductors, reflecting a forward-looking approach to bilateral cooperation.
Foreign Minister Kadir, on his inaugural visit to India in his capacity, articulated the shared intention to explore “more areas of cooperation and collaboration for now and the future.” The meeting served as a comprehensive review of bilateral relations, addressing economic, defense, and regional issues of mutual interest.
A noteworthy outcome of the JCM was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Prasar Bharti and Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) for cooperation in broadcasting. Additionally, an agreement between the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service and Malaysia’s Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations was signed, focusing on collaboration in the training of diplomats.
The visit provided an opportunity for discussions with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, further underscoring the commitment to enhancing bilateral ties. India and Malaysia, celebrating 65 years of diplomatic relations in 2022, have elevated their ties to an enhanced strategic partnership since 2015, with both sides issuing a roadmap for cooperation in 2017.
The JCM reviewed progress in various sectors, including defense, security, trade, health, energy, education, tourism, and people-to-people ties. The discussions extended to sharing perspectives on regional and global issues, with an emphasis on cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, ASEAN, West Asia, and other geopolitical matters.
In 2022, India emerged as Malaysia’s 11th largest trading partner, with a total trade value of US$19.63 billion, highlighting the economic significance of their partnership. The signing of the Agreed Minutes of the JCM and the exchange of agreements in broadcasting and diplomatic training further solidified the commitment to multifaceted cooperation.