MALAYSIA and India are seeking to boost defence cooperation and also on combating terrorism.

Prime Minister Najib Razak, who had a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, said both countries agreed to hold joint air exercises, specifically on tactical deployment of Sukhoi aircraft.

“Prime Minister Modi suggested that on the journey back from or to Australia concerning air exercises, Indian Air Force planes could stop over in Malaysia for the same.

“And I agreed that the joint air exercises be held because they have experience in terms of tactical deployment on Sukhoi jets and we are also looking into how they can assist us in the maintenance and serviceability of the aircraft,” he told Malaysian journalists in New Delhi today.

Najib is in the Indian capital to attend the Asean-India Commemorative Summit which coincides with the country’s 69th Republic Day.

Commenting on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations, Najib said Malaysia hoped to see some positive movements in the free-trade agreement and fresh directive towards its final conclusion by the end of this year.

“We did discussed the issue during the Asean-India Commemorative Summit. RCEP is important and there are many missed opportunities if we do not conclude RCEP. Our target is still by the end of this year but there has to be some movements in order to achieve the finality of RCEP,” he said.

Asked on US President Donald Trump’s remarks that he would reconsider the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement if the United States could strike a “substantially better” agreement, Najib quipped, ”Lets see what the America has in mind.”

The TPP suffered a setback after the US backed out last year, but the remaining 11 member countries forged ahead with the negotiations without the US. – Bernama, January 26, 2018.