By India Blooms News Service Feb 08, 2023
New Delhi: Foreign Minister of New Zealand Nanaia Mahuta is on an official visit to India from Feb 7-10 at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar when the two leaders met and discussed a range of bilateral matters.
She is accompanied by a high-level official and business delegation. Foreign Minister Mahuta will visit Delhi and Mumbai during her first visit to India as Foreign Minister.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar hosted the visiting Foreign Minister for bilateral talks on Tuesday.
Both Ministers discussed the whole range of bilateral matters, including economic cooperation, educational exchanges, defence engagements and people-to-people contacts. They exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and discussed India and New Zealands shared vision for a rules-based, peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.
A warm and wide ranging conversation with FM @NanaiaMahuta of New Zealand this evening. Discussion covered our expanding ties that is being reflected in increased frequency of our contacts. pic.twitter.com/h5P8qbijQi
Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 7, 2023
Foreign Minister Mahuta handed over to the External Affairs Minister signed copies of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement paving the way for New Zealands membership of this initiative.
Foreign Minister Mahutas visit closely follows the visit to New Zealand by External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar in October 2022.
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 two countries are engaging in cooperation across a wide range of areas, including economic, political, defence, education, and science technology.