Indian naval ship INS Sudarshini is paying a four-day visit to Malaysia in a bid to boost maritime cooperation.

The visit is part of a wide range of activities to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of relations between India and the Southeast Asian Nations Association (ASEAN).

The ship, which arrived in Malaysia on February 16, is on its nearly 20,000-km voyage to 13 ports in nine ASEAN member countries to deliver a message on the importance of fostering maritime cooperation between India and ASEAN states, according to the Indian embassy in Malaysia.

It departed from Kochi base, Kerala state, on September 15, 2012, with 31 crew members and 30 coastguard trainees on board and is scheduled to be back on March 29.-VNA