In the bustling city of New Delhi, the esteemed figure of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar engaged in a profoundly fruitful discourse with Winston Peters, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of New Zealand, on a crisp Tuesday. Their deliberations revolved around the augmentation of collaboration within the Commonwealth and the imperative reforms required within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Reflecting on the rendezvous, EAM Jaishankar expressed his gratification, dubbing the encounter as “cordial and productive.” Through a post on the platform X, he encapsulated the essence of their discussions, elucidating on the mutual endeavor to enrich political, commercial, and socio-economic affiliations, as well as fortifying the nexus in realms of security, connectivity, mobility, erudition, and interpersonal relations.
The External Affairs Minister also extended a warm embrace to New Zealand’s integration into the @isolaralliance, while delving into the realms of cooperation within the Commonwealth and the exigent need for reform within the UNSC. Their exchange traversed the contours of the Indo-Pacific narrative and the broader panorama of global concerns.
Winston Peters, the Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, graced the Indian capital on the preceding Monday, marking the onset of his official sojourn to India from March 10 to 13, courtesy of an invitation extended by External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, as confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
This visit marks a significant juncture, being Winston Peters’ maiden voyage to India subsequent to the ascension of the new government in New Zealand in November 2023. His prior engagement with the Indian landscape dates back to February 2020, as mentioned by the MEA. Commencing his journey, Winston Peters made landfall in the vibrant city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat on Sunday night, culminating in a rendezvous with the Chief Executive of the state, Bhupendra Patel, the following day.
The bond between India and New Zealand is underpinned by an intricate tapestry of shared democratic ethos and congruent values, bolstered by the robust interplay of interpersonal connections. This amicable association transcends across multifarious domains, encapsulating realms of commerce and economics, defense and security, erudition and scholarship, as well as the custodianship of the environment and the challenge of climate change, as reiterated by the MEA communiqué.
The inception of bilateral relations between India and New Zealand traces back to 1952, marking the genesis of a longstanding camaraderie. In its laudable “Opening Doors to India” initiative unveiled in October 2011, New Zealand identified India as a cornerstone within its foreign policy framework, a sentiment reaffirmed in 2015.