New Zealand, India strike 'milestone' partnership - Taipei Times

New Zealand and India yesterday announced the creation of a strategic partnership encompassing defense and security, during a landmark visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon feted his guest with an indigenous Maori welcome and a guard of honor, seeking to expand relations after signing a free-trade pact in April that he has touted as an economic boon.

Modi's visit, at the tail end of a tour that has also taken him to Indonesia and Australia, came in the aftermath of China test-firing a ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean on Monday, stirring unease in the region.

Photo: AFP

It was the first visit to New Zealand by an Indian prime minister in 40 years, a sign of New Delhi's deeper engagement at a time of increased Chinese diplomatic and military presence in the Pacific region.

Modi described the strategic partnership as a "milestone" that would inspire greater energy and confidence, as he was hosted by the New Zealand leader for discussions at Government House in Auckland.

"Our firm belief in democratic values makes us natural partners," he said.

The pact covers tighter defense cooperation, including naval exercises, as well as stronger ties in trade, diplomacy, culture, sports and science, the two countries said in a joint statement.

The nations have a shared interest in a "free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific," they said.

The two countries "quickly canvassed" the Chinese missile test, Luxon said.

He skirted a question about whether closer New Zealand-India ties would curb China's ambitions in the region.

"We are a small trading nation. We are a maritime nation. We need to have as many relationships as we possibly can with partners around the world that are like-minded, and some of those are around defense, and some of those around trade, some around both," Luxon said.

In the evening, the two leaders fronted about 10,000 or more cheering Modi fans from the country's 300,000-strong Indian diaspora who packed into Auckland's Spark Arena.

"Before me I see a wonderful audience in which there is the light of a developed India and the prosperity of New Zealand," Modi told supporters.

Luxon praised the Indian diaspora, saying: "Without you we simply would not be the New Zealand we are today."

Outside the stadium, about 20 Sikh protesters demonstrated with a mannequin of Modi in prison clothes, describing the Hindu nationalist as the face of "Hindu terror" in India.

That sparked more than 100 supporters of the Indian leader to chant: "Modi, Modi," leading scores of police to intervene to keep the two sides apart.

Luxon, who faces New Zealand general elections in November, has been promoting the jobs and economic benefits of the free trade deal with India, which is awaiting parliamentary approval.

The trade agreement has faced pushback from some in New Zealand, in particular over its provisions for easier immigration and visa access for Indian students and workers.

New Zealand First party lawmakers, part of Luxon's governing coalition, railed against parts of the agreement.

"I don't care how much criticism we get, I am just never going to agree with a butter chicken tsunami coming to New Zealand," New Zealand Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones told a local radio show.