STATEMENT BY DEFENSE MINISTER OF INDIA AT JOINT PRESS INTERACTION ON JANUARY 7, 2008

Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohd Najib and I held in-depth discussions today morning on a range of bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. We noted with satisfaction that the relations between India and Malaysia, which have traditionally been
friendly and cordial, have grown steadily in diverse areas including in the fields of defense and security. The two sides have agreed to develop the relationship in an all round manner and take it to a new level.

2. We exchanged views on the security environment in the Asia Pacific region and agreed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation, bilaterally, and through regional and multilateral frameworks, to promote peace and stability in the region. India and Malaysia have a shared interest in countering transnational terrorism and the spread of WMD and its technologies, the
protection of the safety and security of regional maritime traffic and cooperation in the areas of disaster management and relief.

3. As part of the joint efforts of the two sides to intensify our bilateral defense cooperation, the Indian Air Force and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited have agreed to undertake the training of Royal Malaysian Air Force pilots and technicians on the operation and maintenance of Su-30
MKM aircraft.

4. During today's discussions it was agreed that both sides would enhance defense exchanges at various levels, promote cooperation in training and education, in strategic and security studies, between the defense industries of the two countries and in the exchange of information. We have agreed to hold joint exercises between our armed forces. Both sides will
develop an annual calendar of cooperation and exchanges in advance and seek to intensify engagement within existing institutional fora.

5. I have invited Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense to visit India at his convenience. A warm welcome awaits him in India. I would like to conclude by expressing my deepest appreciation for the hospitality accorded to my delegation since our arrival in Kuala Lumpur.

JOINT STATEMENT ON THE VISIT OF H.E. SHRI A.K. ANTONY, HON'BLE DEFENCE
MINISTER OF INDIA TO MALAYSIA: 6-8 JANUARY 2008

1. H.E. Mr. A.K. Antony, Minister of Defence of India, is currently paying an official visit to Malaysia from 6 January to 8 January 2008 at the invitation of H.E. Dato' Sri Mohd Najib, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Malaysia. H.E. Mr. A.K. Antony held in-depth discussions in Kuala Lumpur on 7 January 2008 with H.E. Dato' Sri Mohd Najib. He also met Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Syed Jaafar Albar, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The discussions in these meetings covered bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

2. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Malaysia and the Defence Minister of India noted with satisfaction that the relations between the two countries, which have traditionally been friendly and cordial, are now increasingly diversified and multi-faceted, deriving strength from shared interests, multiple synergies and common commitment of the two countries to parliamentary democracy, rule of law, open society and free market economy. Both sides are keen to develop the relationship in an all-round manner and take it to a new level. In this context, the two Ministers agreed that expanded dialogue and cooperation between India and Malaysia in fields of defence and security will not only be mutually beneficial but will also advance regional peace and cooperation.

3. H.E. Dato' Sri Mohd Najib conveyed his appreciation to the Government of India for accepting the request for training of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) personnel for operation and maintenance of Su-30 MKM aircraft by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The two Ministers noted with satisfaction that the RMAF personnel have completed their training programme at the HAL facility in India in November 2007 and that the first phase of training by the IAF has commenced in India on 17 December 2007. For the second phase of training, an IAF training team will be arriving in February 2008 and will be based in Malaysia for a period of two years. Both the Ministers hoped that this understanding will act as an important catalyst toward expanded cooperation between the two countries in the field of defence.

4. The two Ministers exchanged views on the security environment in the Asia-Pacific region and agreed on the need for enhanced dialogue and cooperation, bilaterally as well as through relevant regional and multilateral fora, to promote peace, security and stability in the region.
It was agreed in this context that the two countries had a shared interest in, inter alia: creation of an international climate conducive to economic growth and development; countering trans-national terrorism; preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction and related materials, equipment, technologies and means of delivery; contributing to the safety and security of the regional maritime traffic; promoting international cooperation in the areas of disaster management and relief operations; and promoting the development of regional cooperation mechanisms.

5. Recalling the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation signed between the Government of India and the Government of Malaysia on 2 February 1993, the two Ministers expressed their determination to pursue and deepen dialogue, exchanges and co-operation, inter alia, in the following areas:

1. Exchanges at the level of leadership, policy officials and joint staff of their respective defence establishments;
2. Service-to-service exchanges between the defence establishments at various levels;
3. Promotion of cooperation in areas of training and education, and in strategic and security studies;
4. Promotion of cooperation in defence supplies and defence industry, including technology assistance, co-production, joint ventures and industry collaboration;
5. Exchange of information, assessments and experiences, and cooperation in capacity building in tackling of regional and global challenges, including international terrorism, maritime security, disaster management and relief and peacekeeping operations; and
6. Expanding interaction and cooperation with other nations to promote regional and global security, peace and stability, including through closer collaboration in the relevant regional and multilateral framework.

6. With regard to the scope of cooperation identified above, the two Ministers directed that the mechanisms of implementation may include, inter alia, the following:

1. Holding of annual meetings of the Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM), co-chaired by the Defence Secretary of India and the Secretary General, Ministry of Defence of Malaysia, alternately in the two countries;
2. Holding of service-specific military-to-military talks, alternately in India and Malaysia;
3. Regular exchange of visits at the level of senior military and defence officials;
4. Facilitation of regular exchanges between military training institutes to enable them to exchange views on each other's training programmes and to promote understanding of modern military theories and doctrines;
5. Facilitation of regular exchange of visits between defence industries to enable them to exchange views and learn from each other's experience on defence industrial and technological issues;
6. Mutual exchange of student officers (including civilian officials) and researchers and staff from defence establishments for various courses;
7. Holding of exercises between the Armed Forces in areas of mutual interest and inviting officials of the other side to witness designated military activities; and
8. Participation in security-related conferences and seminars hosted by their defence establishments, and cooperation in relevant regional and multilateral fora.

7. Both sides will seek to develop an annual calendar of cooperation and exchanges in advance.

8. The two Ministers noted that the 6th MIDCOM Meeting, held in New Delhi on 13-14 December 2007, was productive, and directed that the understandings reached during the meeting be implemented in a timely manner.

9. H.E. Mr. A.K. Antony, Minister of Defence of India, thanked the Government of Malaysia for the courtesy and hospitality extended to him and his delegation during the visit to Malaysia. He extended a cordial invitation to H.E. Dato' Sri Mohd Najib, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
of Defence of Malaysia, to visit India. The invitation was accepted with appreciation. The dates of the visit will be decided through diplomatic channels.

Kuala Lumpur,
7 January 2008