New Delhi: Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi arrived in New Delhi today (Dec 19, 2004) on a five-day state visit that is expected to give a big boost to bilateral economic cooperation in diversified areas.

He will hold wide-ranging discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tomorrow on a host of important bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Threats posed by terrorism, UN reforms and situation in Iraq are among issues that are expected to figure during the parleys.

Badawi will call on President A P J Abdul Kalam, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and hold meetings with Ministers for External Affairs, Home, Finance and Petroleum during his stay in New Delhi.

UPA (United Progressive Alliance) chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition L K Advani will also have meetings with the Malaysian Premier.

He was warmly received at Delhi airport by Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed and Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry, Rajiv Sikri.

This is Badawi's first visit to India after he assumed office in October last year. The ruling coalition Barisan National registered a resounding victory in the general elections in March this year.

He is accompanied by Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar, Works Minister S Samy Vellu, Energy, Water and Communication Minister Lim Keng Yaik, Minister of Higher Education Shafie Mohd Salleh, Deputy Minister of Home Tan Chai Ho, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Mohd Sharif Haji Om, senior officials and a large business delegation.

Badawi and the accompanying business delegation will have an interactive session with FICCI and CII.

He will be conferred an Honorary Doctorate by Jamia Millia Islamia. On the occasion, he will deliver an address on the concept of Islam Hadhari or civilisational Islam.

Badawi will travel to Agra and Bangalore where he will visit Infosys, Biocon and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

Malaysia is India's largest trading partner among ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) countries with bilateral trade touching $ 3.2 billion and projected to cross four billion dollars this year.

Malaysian companies play an active role in infrastructure development in India, including in the construction of highways and ports.

Similarly, Indian companies such as IRCON, HMT, EIL, BHEL and IOC have been engaged in the Malaysian industrial sector since the early 1970s.

New Delhi attaches considerable significance to its relations with Malaysia, the current chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement and OIC. Malaysia will assume chairmanship of ASEAN next year.

Another important factor is Malaysia being the home to the largest number of persons of Indian origin (PIOs), who number about two million and who are integrated into the political, economic and social life of that country.