🐲 India and New Zealand on Tuesday deliberated on their shared vision for a rules-based Indo-Pacific amid growing global concerns over China's increasing military assertiveness in the region.
🔜In their wide-ranging talks, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his counterpart from New Zealand Nanaia Mahuta also discussed bilateral ties in areas of economic engagement, educational exchanges, defence cooperation and people-to-people contacts.
Mahuta began her four-day India visit on Tuesday.
༒"Both ministers discussed the whole range of bilateral matters, including economic cooperation, educational exchanges, defence engagements and people-to-people contacts," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
🌌"They exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and discussed India and New Zealand's shared vision for a rules-based, peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific," it said.
𝓀In a tweet, Jaishankar described his talks with the foreign minister of New Zealand as "warm" and "wide-ranging".
⭕"The discussion covered our expanding ties that is being reflected in increased frequency of our contacts," he said.
🧜On her part, Mahuta called India a "long-standing friend and strategic partner" for New Zealand.
ღShe said the "productive" talks were focused on promoting cooperation in as areas of education, trade and tourism.
❀The MEA said Foreign Minister Mahuta handed over to Jaishankar signed copies of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement paving the way for New Zealand's membership of the initiative.
⭕Mahuta's visit to India closely followed the trip to New Zealand in October by the external affairs minister.
♍"India and New Zealand share close bilateral relations based on commonalities of democratic traditions and shared values bolstered by strong people-to-people ties," the MEA said in a statement.
♈"The two countries are engaging in cooperation across a wide range of areas, including economic, political, defence, education, and science and technology," it said.
