Srinagar, July 11 (JKNS): India and New Zealand on Saturday elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership, endorsing the India–New Zealand Strategic Partnership: Roadmap to 2030 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic official visit to Auckland, the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in 40 years.
According to a joint statement issued after bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, as per news agency JKNS, both countries agreed upon a comprehensive 40-point roadmap aimed at significantly expanding cooperation across political, strategic, economic, defence, educational, cultural and multilateral sectors.
The leaders described the visit as a historic milestone that charts a new course in the enduring friendship between the two nations and builds upon the momentum generated during Prime Minister Luxon’s visit to India in March 2025.
The joint statement noted that India and New Zealand had already launched negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2025 besides signing memorandums in defence, education, customs, horticulture, forestry and sports.
Recognising their shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties and common interests in the Indo-Pacific, the two Prime Ministers agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership and endorsed the Roadmap to 2030 as the guiding framework for cooperation over the next four years.
Both sides agreed on an ambitious long-term vision to deepen existing cooperation mechanisms while exploring new opportunities for engagement bilaterally as well as in regional and multilateral forums.
Under political and diplomatic engagement, the two Prime Ministers agreed to hold regular reciprocal visits and meetings between Prime Ministers and Ministers while establishing a regular Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue and continuing annual senior officials’ meetings between India’s Ministry of External Affairs and New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The leaders also encouraged greater parliamentary exchanges through regular interactions between Members of Parliament, including the Parliamentary Friendship Group for New Zealand recently constituted in the Indian Parliament.
On defence and security cooperation, both countries welcomed progress achieved under the 2025 Defence Cooperation Memorandum and agreed to maintain structured engagements at defence ministry and military service levels.
The statement highlighted successful cooperation under Combined Task Force-150 during 2025, where New Zealand served as Commander and India as Deputy Commander to combat narcotics trafficking, terrorism and illicit maritime activities.
As maritime nations, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific and agreed to strengthen maritime cooperation through a Maritime Cooperation Arrangement, an Implementing Arrangement on Hydrography and Nautical Cartography, and a Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement focused on maritime operations.
Both sides also welcomed bilateral naval exercises and agreed to establish an annual Maritime Security Dialogue.
India welcomed New Zealand’s nomination of Maritime Security as its priority pillar under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, while both countries committed to exploring joint initiatives under the framework.
The leaders further reaffirmed cooperation against terrorism, cyber security challenges, organised crime, narcotics trafficking, financial crime, cyber-enabled offences, people smuggling and trafficking, agreeing to formalise counter-narcotics and law enforcement cooperation between relevant agencies.
On trade and economic cooperation, India and New Zealand agreed to work towards doubling bilateral trade in goods and services to NZ$7 billion (approximately ₹35,000 crore) by 2030 while encouraging businesses to strengthen commercial linkages.
The two Prime Ministers welcomed the conclusion and signing of a comprehensive, balanced and mutually beneficial India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and committed to ensuring its early implementation.
The statement noted that New Zealand would support India’s Viksit Bharat vision through cooperation in trade, agriculture, innovation, clean energy, sports and skills.
Recognising tourism’s role in economic growth, both sides signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Tourism while encouraging airlines to commence direct non-stop flights between India and New Zealand.
The leaders welcomed expanding cooperation in horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry and dairying, acknowledging New Zealand’s expertise in productivity, food safety, sustainability and post-harvest systems.
They also welcomed the Agricultural Productivity Partnership under the FTA, including Centres of Excellence for kiwifruit in India and institutional collaborations promoting agricultural innovation.
The two sides further welcomed progress in discussions on mutual recognition of seafarer competency certificates to strengthen maritime workforce mobility.
On people-to-people relations, the Prime Ministers praised the Indian community in New Zealand for serving as an important bridge between both countries and acknowledged its contribution to New Zealand’s economy, society, public life and culture.
The leaders also welcomed celebrations marking 100 Years of Unity Through Sport in 2026 and endorsed the India-New Zealand Joint Action Plan on Sport covering coaching, sports science, participation, sports business and institutional exchanges.
Cultural cooperation will also be strengthened through collaboration in traditional medicine, maritime heritage and the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal alongside the New Zealand Maritime Museum.
Education, research, science, technology and innovation were recognised as major pillars of the relationship, with both leaders encouraging stronger institutional partnerships, student mobility and collaborative research.
Both countries agreed to enhance cooperation in climate resilience, agriculture, digital transformation and emerging technologies.
Prime Minister Modi welcomed New Zealand joining the Global Biofuels Alliance, while both sides reaffirmed cooperation under the International Solar Alliance and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
A Memorandum of Cooperation was also signed between India’s National Disaster Management Authority and New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency to strengthen disaster preparedness, response and resilience.
On regional and multilateral cooperation, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific while supporting ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
The leaders reiterated their commitment to freedom of navigation, peaceful settlement of disputes and adherence to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Both Prime Ministers stressed the importance of reforming the United Nations and expanding the Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories.
New Zealand reaffirmed its support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council.
The statement also reaffirmed commitment to nuclear disarmament and acknowledged India’s aspiration to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
Expressing concern over tensions in the Middle East, both leaders called for restraint, protection of civilians, restoration of freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and adherence to international law.
On Ukraine, they supported efforts towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace through dialogue and diplomacy.
The leaders also discussed resilient global supply chains and recognised India’s growing role in international energy security while expressing concern over disruptions affecting Pacific Island nations.
Both Prime Ministers strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and specifically condemned the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir and the November 10, 2025 terror incident near Red Fort in New Delhi, calling for those responsible to be brought to justice.
They reiterated the need for zero tolerance against terrorism, dismantling terrorist infrastructure, eliminating terror financing and safe havens, and strengthening cooperation through the United Nations and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
The leaders welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Arrangement establishing a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism to facilitate information sharing and coordinated action.
Concluding the visit, both Prime Ministers directed ministers and senior officials to ensure timely implementation of the Roadmap to 2030 and agreed that progress would be reviewed regularly.
Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and the people of New Zealand for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation, while both leaders reaffirmed their resolve to realise the full potential of the India-New Zealand Strategic Partnership. (JKNS)