New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon Embarks on Historic India Visit to Strengthen Bilateral Ties
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is set to pay an official visit to India from March 16 to 20, marking his first trip to the country since assuming office. The high-level delegation accompanying him will include ministers, senior officials, businesses, media representatives, and members of the Indian diaspora community in New Zealand.
Luxon’s trip is a significant step in further strengthening the bilateral relationship between India and New Zealand, with a focus on people-to-people ties. “This is the first visit of a New Zealand Prime Minister to India in a long, long time,” said Bhav Dhillon, former Honorary Consul of India in Auckland and a leading figure in the Indian diaspora in New Zealand. “Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has a huge appetite to engage with India, which is a global power in both economy and geopolitics. He wants to engage with India at all levels, not just trade, but at all levels.”
Dhillon, who will be accompanying the PM along with other members of the Indian diaspora community, emphasized that this visit will be a landmark meeting between the two leaders, resulting in some “landmark outcomes.” He pointed out that India’s growing global influence cannot be ignored, and New Zealand is recognizing India’s importance by giving it due respect and attention. The visit will likely lead to several MoUs being signed, covering areas such as education, sports, defense, and other sectors.
New Zealand, a world leader in dairy farming, is also looking to share its advances in agricultural and horticultural technology with India. “India has a lot of demand for good agriculture and horticulture technology,” Dhillon noted. “New Zealand is ready to cooperate with India and help the large agri-based population in India. This also fits in with the vision of Prime Minister Modi, who wants to bring farmers up in the country.” New Zealand has the technologies and a broad-based partnership between the two countries would be highly beneficial.
According to Dhillon, the current New Zealand government is seeking to develop a wholesome relationship with India, going beyond just trade. They want to engage with New Delhi in several spheres, including strategic alignment over the Indo-Pacific, defense agreements, sporting bodies, education, fintech, and space technology sectors. The New Zealand Navy ship is also set to dock in Mumbai during the visit, further underscoring the significance of the trip.
As the country with the world’s fastest-growing economy, India is an attractive market for New Zealand, and Luxon’s visit is seen as a major step towards strengthening economic ties. The visit is also expected to pave the way for future collaborations in various sectors, solidifying the ties between the two nations. With its growing global influence, India is no longer a market to be ignored, and New Zealand is looking to engage with it at multiple levels. Luxon’s trip is likely to be a crucial milestone in this regard, marking a new chapter in Indo-New Zealand relations.
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/new-zealand-pm-luxon-has-huge-appetite-to-engage-with-india
Category : India , World
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Publish Date: 2025-03-14 15:17:00
