Jaishankar Engages with Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim and Regional Leaders During ASEAN Summit

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim and other regional leaders at the ASEAN summit, discussing bilateral cooperation and strategic partnerships.

International

-Sathish Raman

Updated: Sunday, October 26, 2025, 23:12 [IST]

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar engaged in discussions with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during the ASEAN summit. He conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's best wishes for the event's success. "Honoured to meet Prime Minister @anwaribrahim of Malaysia. Conveyed the best wishes of Prime Minister @narendramodi for a successful ASEAN Summit," Jaishankar shared on social media.

Jaishankar also met with Cho Hyun, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea, at the summit. They explored cooperation in sectors like automotive, electronics, semiconductor, defence, and shipbuilding. "Delighted to meet @FMChoHyun of RoK, on the sidelines of ASEAN meetings in Malaysia. Appreciate the deepening of our Special Strategic Partnership. Discussed cooperation in automotive, electronics, semiconductor, defence and shipbuilding," he posted.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

The External Affairs Minister had a productive conversation with Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. They discussed global and regional issues and explored ways to enhance India-Singapore cooperation. "Good to meet FM @VivianBala of Singapore. A very useful exchange on the global and regional scenario, as well as opportunities for strengthening India-Singapore cooperation," Jaishankar noted.

In another meeting, Jaishankar met Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow in Kuala Lumpur. This was their first meeting, and they expressed eagerness to advance their Strategic Partnership. "A first meeting with Thai FM @SihasakPh in Kuala Lumpur today. Look forward to working together to take forward our Strategic Partnership," he posted.

India-ASEAN Summit Participation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the India-ASEAN annual summit virtually on Sunday. His participation underscored India's commitment to strengthening ties with ASEAN nations. The summit provided a platform for discussing various bilateral and multilateral issues among participating countries.

Jaishankar emphasised the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation and people-to-people connections with Malaysia during his talks with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. "Value his thoughts on strengthening our bilateral cooperation and people-to-people linkages," he added in his social media post.

The series of meetings held by Jaishankar at the ASEAN summit highlights India's proactive engagement in fostering strategic partnerships across Southeast Asia. These discussions reflect India's focus on expanding cooperation in diverse sectors with key regional partners.

With inputs from PTI