PM Modi meets NZ counterpart Christopher Luxon, discusses bilateral ties, trade expansion

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his counterpart from New Zealand Christopher Luxon at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Monday. Luxon arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for a five-day official visit to India. He will be the chief guest at the 10th edition of Raisina Dialogue and will also deliver the keynote address.

PM Luxon will also meet President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

"PM Narendra Modi warmly welcomed PM Christopher Luxon of New Zealand at Hyderabad House today. Extensive discussions on - bilateral relationship lie ahead," MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.

The meeting comes amid a growing push to enhance bilateral ties, with both leaders set to discuss economic cooperation, trade expansion, and regional security. The visit has already seen the announcement of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two nations.

Bolstering ties

“New Zealand is committed to doing more with India across a wide range of areas — defense and security, trade and economics, people-to-people ties, education, tourism, sports and culture,” New Zealand PM Luxon said at joint press conference with PM Modi.

Modi said the two countries will also prepare a roadmap “for mutual cooperation in defense industries,” including initiating negotiations on a “mutually beneficial” free trade agreement.

The bilateral trade between India and New Zealand stood at $873.4 million in 2023-24 financial year compared to $1.02 billion in 2022-23.

Indian govt ‘generous, welcoming’

Luxon called the Indian government "incredibly generous and very welcoming" to New Zealand. He said that he brought the biggest delegation that has ever accompanied a PM on his visit, which includes business leaders and a community delegation.

He also said that New Zealand is lifting its ties with India and hailed the contribution of the Indian community in New Zealand while highlighting the areas where “Indian-Kiwis” have made a mark.

Luxon met community and business leaders who have accompanied him on his visit to India. Cricketers Ajaz Patel and Ross Taylor were also seen with the New Zealand PM.

"I've brought along a senior delegation of community and business leaders here to India - the largest ever group to accompany a New Zealand PM on a foreign trip. Was great to catch up with them after our arrival and before we kick off our events in Delhi and Mumbai," he wrote on X.

On Sunday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with the New Zealand PM and expressed appreciation towards Luxon for further deepening the longstanding ties between the two countries.

India and New Zealand share warm and friendly ties. Diplomatic relations were established in 1952. Both countries share similarities such as membership of the Commonwealth, common law practices and pursuing shared aspirations of achieving economic development and prosperity through democratic governance systems for diverse communities.

(With inputs from ANI)