India, New Zealand Elevate Ties to Strategic Partnership
PM Modi, PM Luxon unveil Roadmap to 2030, sign key agreements on trade, defence and security
GG News Bureau
Auckland, 11th July: India and New Zealand on Saturday elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership, adopting the India-New Zealand Strategic Partnership: Roadmap to 2030 to strengthen cooperation in trade, defence, security, education, technology and the Indo-Pacific.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day official visit to New Zealand at the invitation of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, held bilateral talks in Auckland. The visit marks the first by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in four decades and is being described as a historic milestone in bilateral relations.
The two leaders agreed to establish regular Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue and expand high-level political engagement to guide the implementation of the Roadmap to 2030. Parliamentary exchanges and annual senior officials’ meetings will also be strengthened.
On defence and security, both sides agreed to deepen maritime cooperation through a Maritime Cooperation Arrangement, hydrography and nautical cartography agreement, and a Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement. India and New Zealand will also launch an annual Maritime Security Dialogue and expand cooperation in counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, organised crime and maritime security.
The Prime Ministers welcomed the conclusion and signing of a comprehensive India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and set an ambitious target of doubling bilateral trade in goods and services to NZ$7 billion (around ₹35,000 crore) by 2030. They also signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Tourism and reiterated support for direct flights between the two countries.
The leaders agreed to expand cooperation in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry and dairying, while strengthening partnerships in education, research, science, innovation and emerging technologies. They also welcomed collaboration in disaster management, climate resilience, renewable energy and the Global Biofuels Alliance.
Recognising the contribution of the Indian diaspora, both Prime Ministers highlighted the importance of stronger people-to-people ties through education, culture and sports. They welcomed celebrations marking 100 Years of Unity Through Sport and endorsed a Joint Action Plan on Sport to enhance cooperation in coaching, sports science and athlete exchanges.
On regional and global issues, India and New Zealand reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific, respect for international law and freedom of navigation. New Zealand reiterated its support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed United Nations Security Council.
The two leaders strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms, including the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam and New Delhi, and agreed to strengthen cooperation against terrorism financing, violent extremism and transnational crime through a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism.
Concluding the visit, Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Luxon and the people of New Zealand for their warm hospitality, while both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the Roadmap to 2030 and taking the Strategic Partnership to new heights.
