India (Commonwealth Union)_ New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon embarked on a historic five-day official visit to India on Sunday, marking a significant step in enhancing the relationship between the two countries. Luxon’s visit comes at a time when both nations are actively seeking to broaden their economic, diplomatic, and cultural ties. During his visit, Luxon will serve as the chief guest at the 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue, where he will deliver the keynote address. The Prime Minister’s arrival was met with warm welcomes, and he expressed deep appreciation for the Indian government, calling it “incredibly generous and very welcoming.”
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Strengthening economic and trade relations
The primary goal of Luxon’s visit is to further strengthen the economic and trade relations between New Zealand and India. Upon his arrival in New Delhi, Luxon announced that the two nations had agreed to begin negotiations for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA), a landmark decision aimed at deepening economic engagement. Luxon emphasized that he had brought along the largest-ever delegation accompanying a New Zealand Prime Minister, which includes prominent business leaders and members of the community.
Luxon also highlighted the significant contribution of the Indian diaspora to New Zealand’s social and economic fabric. “The Indian community is the third-largest ethnic group in New Zealand, the largest source of skilled migrants, and the second-largest source of international students,” he said. Luxon’s speech at the Raisina Dialogue underscored the importance of shifting trade ties beyond traditional sectors, with a focus on diversified areas such as technology, education, and clean energy.
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Meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Luxon’s visit also featured crucial talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders held extensive discussions on a range of bilateral issues, focusing on trade, defence, education, sports, agriculture, and people-to-people exchanges. Following the talks, India and New Zealand signed a pivotal defence agreement, which aims to strengthen security cooperation between the two nations, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. Modi and Luxon also announced the launch of negotiations for a mutually beneficial FTA, which is expected to promote trade and investment, particularly in dairy, food processing, and pharmaceuticals. “This agreement will deepen our bilateral ties and unlock new opportunities for cooperation,” Modi said.
The two leaders further agreed to bolster their defence and security partnership and work towards creating a roadmap for cooperation in the defence industry sector. In addition to economic matters, the two leaders also addressed global challenges. They reaffirmed their support for a peaceful and stable Middle East and stressed the importance of resolving the ongoing crisis in Gaza through continued negotiations. The discussions also included the possibility of direct flights between the two countries, which would further enhance travel and business exchanges.
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Engagement with top Indian leaders
Luxon’s visit included high-profile meetings with key Indian political figures. On Sunday, he met with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who praised Luxon’s efforts to deepen the longstanding ties between the two nations. Jaishankar particularly noted Luxon’s deep knowledge of India and his commitment to strengthening bilateral relations in the Indo-Pacific region. On Tuesday, Luxon met with Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, to discuss the future of India-New Zealand relations. The two leaders deliberated on ways to further enhance diplomatic, economic, and cultural exchanges between the two nations. Luxon also had the opportunity to meet with President Droupadi Murmu, who he described as “a great friend of New Zealand.”
The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
A major highlight of Luxon’s visit was the announcement of the launch of FTA negotiations between India and New Zealand. Both leaders agreed that the FTA should be “balanced, ambitious, comprehensive, and mutually beneficial.” PM Modi stressed that the FTA would enhance the potential of trade and investment between the two countries. Discussions during the visit included an early implementation of cooperation in the digital payments sector, a key area for collaboration. Additionally, Luxon mentioned that both nations would explore opportunities to promote mutual cooperation and investment in sectors such as dairy, food processing, and pharmaceuticals. The New Zealand Prime Minister expressed his optimism that the FTA would contribute to a flourishing economic partnership and create new avenues for growth.
Defence and security cooperation
The defence sector was a key focus of the visit, with India and New Zealand signing a significant defence pact aimed at strengthening their military and security cooperation. The agreement is expected to enhance collaboration in areas such as joint training, strategic dialogues, and the sharing of defence technology. Both countries also agreed to institutionalize their defence partnership and prepare a roadmap for cooperation in the defence industry sector. Luxon visited the Indian Navy’s latest indigenously built destroyer, INS Surat, at the Naval Dockyard, where he was given a tour of the warship’s design and cutting-edge capabilities. The visit underscored New Zealand’s growing interest in strengthening its defence ties with India, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.
Temple visits and cultural engagements
Luxon’s visit was not limited to diplomatic and economic discussions; it also included significant cultural exchanges. On Monday, he and PM Modi visited the historic Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, where they paid their respects at the Sikh shrine, underscoring the importance of India’s rich cultural diversity. Luxon also visited the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in Delhi, where he acknowledged the contributions of New Zealand’s Hindu community. During his visit, he was presented with a special print of the Satsang Diksha in the Māori language, a sacred Hindu scripture, symbolizing the shared values of faith, culture, and devotion between the two nations. Luxon’s visit to the temple highlighted his commitment to strengthening ties with various Indian communities in New Zealand.
Luxon’s love for cricket and Indian movies
In another memorable moment, Luxon participated in a game of street cricket with former India captain Kapil Dev and New Zealand cricketers Ajaz Patel and Ross Taylor. The light-hearted event, which was shared on social media, resonated deeply with cricket fans in both countries, further solidifying the bonds of friendship. He also visited Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and engaged with the cricketers there. Additionally, Bollywood stars including Aamir Khan, Vidya Balan, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Ronnie Screwvala, and Ashutosh Gowariker met New Zealand’s PM Christopher Luxon to discuss film destination collaborations. The meeting aimed to strengthen ties between the Indian film industry and New Zealand, with the PM personally inviting the stars to explore New Zealand as a prime filming location. Furthermore, a video of PM splashing colours and playing Holi in Auckland also surfaced on the internet, sparking excitement.
Major agreements signed
During his visit, Luxon and Modi oversaw the signing of several major agreements aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation. These included:
Mutual Recognition Agreement: Between India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and New Zealand’s Customs Service to streamline customs procedures.
AEO-MRA Agreement: A pact to enhance customs cooperation and facilitate smoother trade processes.
Memorandum of Cooperation on Horticulture: A collaboration between India’s Ministry of Agriculture and New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries to enhance agricultural practices.
Letter of Intent on Forestry: Exchanged between the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change of India and New Zealand’s counterparts.
Education Cooperation Agreement: A significant agreement aimed at fostering academic exchanges and collaboration in the education sector.
Memorandum of Cooperation in Sports: A partnership between India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and Sport New Zealand to enhance sporting ties.
Big moves ahead
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s visit to India marks a new chapter in the long-standing relationship between the two countries. From strengthening economic ties through an FTA to deepening cultural and defence cooperation, the visit underscored the shared vision of both nations to foster peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. The visit also highlighted the importance of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand and the cultural exchanges that continue to bind the two nations. As India and New Zealand continue to build on their historic relationship, both countries look forward to a future marked by even greater collaboration and mutual respect.
