India, New Zealand elevate ties to Strategic Partnership: PM Luxon
Auckland, July 11
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Saturday announced that India and New Zealand agreed to elevate the ties to a strategic partnership aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation and providing a broader framework for expanding engagement in the years ahead.
He described Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit as a significant milestone in ties between the two countries, noting that it marked the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in 40 years.
Addressing delegation-level talks with PM Modi in Auckland, Luxon said, "It's a truly historic event, as you and I have talked about last night, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in 40 years. This visit is also a significant milestone in the New Zealand-India relationship. When I visited India last year, you welcomed me and my delegation with great warmth and tremendous generosity. I am therefore delighted to welcome you here."
Expressing gratitude to PM Modi for his personal commitment to advancing bilateral ties, Luxon said that discussions would extend beyond the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and focus on broadening the overall partnership between the two countries.
"Thank you for the relationship, and thank you for what you have put into it personally. I think we have made tremendous progress in a very short period of time on the trade agenda. But today's focus is about more than just the FTA. It's about where we go to next in this relationship and how we broaden that out..and I know we have. I am very proud to announce that we will be forming a strategic partnership which will give the relationship more, framework and breadth for us to continue to expand as we go forward from here," he added.
In a post shared on X, Luxon said New Zealand and India may be at opposite ends of the Indo-Pacific, but geographical distance has not stood in the way of expanding economic ties through a free trade agreement.
"New Zealand and India bookend the Indo-Pacific, but distance is no barrier to us working together to grow our economies. That's what we're doing through our free trade agreement, which will eliminate tariffs on 57 per cent of everything we sell to India on day one," said Luxon.
Following the talks in Auckland, the two leaders also witnessed the exchange of several key MoUs to expand cooperation across multiple sectors.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in New Zealand on Friday, on the final leg of his three-nation visit.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally, some concrete action instead of just talks! The 57% tariff elimination on day one is a big deal for Indian exporters. But I hope India also pushes for easier visa access for Indian students and skilled workers. Many talented Indians want to study and work in New Zealand. The MoUs in education and agriculture could be game-changers if implemented properly.
I've been watching this closely from Wellington. The FTA is great news, but let's be honest—New Zealand dairy and meat will now compete strongly in the Indian market. Will Indian farmers be protected? Also, PM Modi's "Act East" policy is clearly paying off. Strategic partnership means more than trade; it's about balancing China's influence in the Pacific. Good move.
Very happy to see this! My cousin studied in Auckland and always said Kiwis are the most welcoming people. The MoUs on renewable energy and space cooperation are particularly exciting—India's ISRO and New Zealand's growing space sector can synergize well. However, I wish they'd also discuss climate change adaptation for the Pacific islands. Still, a great step forward for Bharat! 🙏
As someone who moved from Mumbai to Christchurch five years ago, this makes me emotional. The Indian diaspora here is thriving—doctors, IT professionals, dairy farmers. This strategic partnership recognizes that Indians aren't just tourists or students; we're contributors to New Zealand's economy. But I hope the FTA includes better protection for migrant workers' rights. 🇮🇳❤️🇳🇿
R Rahul R