- विज्ञापन -
New Delhi: New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is on a historic visit to India after nine years. This marks the first visit by a New Zealand Prime Minister to India in nine years, the last being former PM John Key. Luxon, who will be in India until March 20, is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising ministers, senior officials, business leaders, media representatives, and members of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand. Ahead of his arrival, the Ministry of External Affairs shared a video on X highlighting the wide-ranging relationship between India and New Zealand.
During his visit, Luxon will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 17, focusing on various aspects of India-New Zealand relations. Following their discussions, PM Modi will host a lunch in his honour. Luxon will also call on President Droupadi Murmu on the same day. Additionally, Luxon is set to attend the inaugural session of the 10th Raisina Dialogue 2025 on March 17 as the chief guest, where he will deliver the keynote address.
On March 19-20, he will visit Mumbai to engage with Indian business leaders and representatives from various sectors. He is scheduled to depart for Wellington from Mumbai on March 20. Luxon and PM Modi have previously engaged on the sidelines of several global events, including the East Asia Summit in Laos in October 2024. India and New Zealand share historically close ties driven by strategic interests, trade, education, culture, research, and innovation.
Bhav Dhillon, former Consul of India in Auckland, says, “This visit is taking place after nine years. The Prime Minister of New Zealand is coming to India at the invitation of India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. There are several areas where outcomes and cooperation are expected. First and foremost is the launch of trade negotiations between the two countries”
“This is the first visit of a New Zealand Prime Minister to India in a long, long time. The new Prime Minister, even before he assumed office in the run up to elections, had said that he would make India first priority and will visit the country once he assumes office. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has a huge appetite, and rightly so, to engage with India, which is, you know, a global power in both economy and geopolitics. Hence, the current Prime Minister really wants to engage with India at all levels. Not just trade, but at all levels,” Bhav Dhillon, the former Honorary Consul of India in Auckland and leading face of the Indian diaspora in the country, told in an interview.
