New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi met his Malaysian and Ethiopian counterparts, Anwar Ibrahim and Abiy Ahm-ed Ali, on the sidelines of the Brics summit Saturday. Officials said the meetings took relations with both countries on a new trajectory, as Malaysia and Ethiopia expressed keenness for stronger defence cooperation with India.Joint personnel training as well as defence procurem-ent from India was discussed, according to officials. Both countries welcomed Indian industry and investment.Ethiopia welcomed Indian mining companies. “Opportunities in the semiconductor industry were discussed with Malaysia,” said a source. Malaysia also agreed to the opening of a new Indian consulate in the country.According to an official readout, Modi and Ibrahim took stock of the outcomes of the former’s visit to Malaysia in Feb and reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation acro-ss a range of areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, semiconductors, infrastructure, digital economy, energy, fintech, education, tourism and people-to-people ties. Ibrahim conveyed Malaysia’s concurrence to the establishment of a consulate general of India in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.“PM Modi appreciated Malaysia’s continued support in strengthening Asean-India relations. The leaders exchanged views on key regional and global issues of mutual interest. They expressed their continued commitment to advancing the India-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” said the Indian readout.
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The meeting with the Ethiopian PM saw the leaders discussing strengthening of the bilateral strategic partnership. They reviewed progress across sectors like economic cooperation, defence and security partnership, and capacity building. It built on Modi’s visit to Addis Ababa in Dec 2025, said an Indian readout. They reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation in multilateral forums, according to officials.“PM Narendra Modi noted that (Ethiopia’s) presence helped in reinforcing the collective voice of the Global South,” said the readout.