India, New Zealand elevate ties to strategic partnership, set 2030 roadmap
India and New Zealand have decided to elevate their bilateral relationship to a 'strategic partnership' following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his New Zealand counterpart, Christopher Luxon, on Saturday. The two leaders endorsed the 'India-New Zealand Strategic Partnership: Roadmap to 2030', a framework designed to guide joint action over the next four years.
The meeting in Auckland marked the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in 40 years. PM Modi described the talks as extensive and fruitful, stating that the visit has added momentum to the friendship between the two nations. 'We have decided to elevate our ties to a strategic partnership. We will move forward across every sector with clear goals and concrete outcomes,' he said.
The joint statement highlighted the long-standing friendship, shared democratic values, deep people-to-people links, and mutual interests in the Indo-Pacific as the basis for the elevation. The Roadmap to 2030 aims to take bilateral relations to a new level, strengthen existing cooperation mechanisms, and explore new avenues for deepening cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally.
Both sides agreed to an ambitious long-term vision that includes doubling bilateral trade to NZ$7 billion (approximately Rs 35,000 crore) by 2030, in the context of the Free Trade Agreement signed earlier this year. PM Modi noted that the FTA was signed in record time and would open new doors for industries, farmers, and youth in both countries.
The leaders also signed several pacts covering maritime cooperation between defence forces, logistics support between navies, a joint working group on counter-terrorism, disaster management, dairy farming, and tourism. A joint action plan on sports was adopted, and a maritime security dialogue was launched. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the maritime security dialogue will strengthen cooperation, coordination, and information exchange.
An agreement on hydrographic cooperation was also inked, involving joint production of navigational charts, data sharing, training, and capacity building. Additionally, an arrangement on mutual logistics support between the Indian Navy and the New Zealand Defence Force was signed. On global issues, PM Modi emphasised that reform in global institutions, including the United Nations, is essential to address contemporary challenges.
These initiatives reflect the commitment of India and New Zealand to deepen their partnership across strategic, economic, and people-to-people dimensions, with a clear roadmap for the coming years.
