TIME FOR MALAYSIA, INDIA TO CONTEMPORISE RELATIONSHIP, SAYS PM

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak said the time has come
for Malaysia and India to contemporise their relationship.

"We want to have more substance in our strong, warm relationship that we have
enjoyed encompassing so many fields, apart from our strong cultural ties.

"And of course, our government-to-government relationship that our
predecessors had built over so many years," he said at a dinner hosted by him in
conjunction with Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's visit, at Seri Perdana,
here Wednesday night.

Manmohan is on a three-day official visit to Malaysia beginning Tuesday.

Najib said he was a great admirer of India because it was not only a big country
but also a great civilisation.

"What we see today under your leadership, is a new India. The country has the
courage to transform itself, and to unleash its talent and creativity in so many
fields, especially in the field of information and communication technology
(ICT).

"We see India making waves, growing at a very impressive rate of more than nine
per cent, and with much more promise to come," he said.

Najib said he had read the cover story of The Economist recently which showcased
India as a country whose economy would be one to watch and might even surpass
the world's expectation.

He also believed that whatever both countries had accomplished today such as the
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and the India-Malaysia CEOs
Forum would certainly usher in an exciting period in the two countries'
bilateral ties.

Meanwhile, Manmohan in his speech, said the decision to establish the strategic
partnership Wednesday was truly historic.

He said both countries would work together as partners and close friends which
would be conducive to peace, prosperity and sustainable development.

"Our talks Wednesday, gave me the confidence that we could transform our
relationship at the bilateral and multilateral levels.

"India is keen and willing to work with you all the distance to realise the
vision that you had spelt out in Delhi," he said.

Manmohan also said that he had always admired the achievements and
leadership of Malaysia which was going through yet another glorious chapter in the
long history of this great country.

"When we met in New Delhi early this year, I was greatly impressed by your
desire to create a qualitatively new bilateral relations between our two
countries for this 21st century.

"India is privileged to work with you and your colleagues to give new meaning
and content to our relationship," he said.
-- BERNAMA