1st LD Writethru: Modi holds talks with visiting Malaysian PM in Indian capital

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak here on Saturday as both countries geared up for delegation-level talks and got ready to ink a number of pacts in various fields.

Modi held closed-door talks with Razak at the iconic Hyderabad House in the heart of the national capital in the evening.

"Honoring a shared heritage. PM @narendramodi receives PM @NajibRazak at Hyderabad House," Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay tweeted.

Addressing a joint press conference, Modi lauded bilateral cooperation in sectors of food security, traditional medicine, educational exchanges and anti-terror efforts.

On bilateral defense partnership, Modi said both India and Malaysia are cooperating in various fields, including maritime security and maintenance of military hardware.

The External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said that Razak "compliments PM @narendramodi on bold economic reforms and congratulates him on India's high economic growth."

Earlier in the day, the Malaysian prime minister was received by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Modi.

He later met Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

The Malaysian prime minister, who is on a six-day official visit to India, arrived in southern state of Tamil Nadu's capital Chennai on Thursday, where he met, apart from political leaders, Tamil film industry's superstar Latha Rajnikanth.

He came to Delhi on Friday and will go to the western state of Rajasthan Sunday, where he is slated to hold talks with state Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia. Endit