Major Achievements from Modis Tour of Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand: Ministry of External Affairs
Auckland, July 11: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tour of Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand has resulted in several significant achievements. This trip has revitalized cooperation across various sectors, including trade, technology, security, education, innovation, and people-to-people connections.
The MEA stated on the social media platform X that Modi’s visit to New Zealand has further strengthened the relationship between the two nations, providing a new direction for partnership and solidifying the foundation for a shared future.
During the final leg of his three-country tour, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon honored Modi with a farewell at Auckland Airport, symbolizing the strong ties between the two countries. Prior to this, Modi completed a historic visit to Australia and visited Indonesia.
After arriving in Auckland late Friday night, Modi engaged in bilateral talks with Prime Minister Luxon at Government House on Saturday. He received a traditional Māori welcome upon arrival, which included customs symbolizing peace, respect, and hospitality. Following this, Modi inspected a guard of honor.
The discussions between the two leaders included both limited and delegation-level talks, covering various aspects of bilateral cooperation such as trade and investment, defense and security, agricultural technology, sports, education, tourism, culture, and people-to-people relations.
After the talks, multiple memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and agreements were exchanged in the presence of both Prime Ministers, focusing on areas like defense and maritime security, hydrography, sports, disaster management, dairy, tourism, maritime heritage, culture, food technology, and marine research.
Modi and Luxon also met with leading industrialists and business figures from both countries. During this meeting, Modi emphasized that India and New Zealand are united by shared democratic values, the rule of law, diversity, and a commitment to sustainable development, which form the foundation for a robust economic partnership.
He described the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a crucial step that would inject new energy and depth into the economic ties between the two nations. Modi noted that this agreement would open new opportunities for market access, investment, services, technology, and talent exchange.
Both Prime Ministers participated in a special gala lunch themed ‘India-New Zealand: A Winning Partnership,’ attended by prominent figures from politics, industry, business, education, technology, sports, and the arts.
Following this, the leaders observed modern sports equipment and engaged with New Zealand’s medal-winning athletes and high-performance sports personnel.
In the final event of the tour, Modi addressed nearly 10,000 members of the Indian community residing in New Zealand at the ‘Kia Ora Modi’ program, with Prime Minister Luxon also attending as a special guest.
Modi praised the enthusiasm and warmth of the Indian community, stating that they are the strongest pillar of friendship between the two nations. He wrote on social media, “The Indian community in New Zealand is the strongest link in our friendship. Addressing them in Auckland was a memorable experience.”
In his address, Modi emphasized that the relationship between India and New Zealand extends beyond friendship; it is based on shared values and commitments. He referenced the Māori tradition of ‘waka’ (canoe), stating that it symbolizes not just a boat but a shared journey and partnership between the two countries. He expressed confidence that this partnership would now move toward new opportunities and greater heights.
