During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to New Zealand, he and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Saturday recognized education, research, science and technology, and innovation as key aspects of the bilateral relationship, according to a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement.
Key Areas of Cooperation
The two leaders encouraged government officials, institutions, and industry to scope and build partnerships in agriculture, climate, digital transformation, science, innovation, and new and emerging technologies. They specifically highlighted education as a central pillar underpinning people-to-people links, skills development, research collaboration, and long-term economic partnership.
The Prime Ministers welcomed the growing connections between educational institutions in both countries and agreed to strengthen cooperation to support student mobility, institutional partnerships, innovation, and mutual understanding. They reflected on progress in implementing the 2025 Education Cooperation Arrangement and acknowledged engagements and new institutional partnerships developed since its signing.
Climate and Disaster Resilience
Both leaders recognized the shared challenges of climate change and the transition to low-emissions and climate-resilient economies. They agreed to deepen cooperation through the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. Prime Minister Modi welcomed New Zealand joining the Global Biofuels Alliance.
The Prime Ministers also welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between the National Disaster Management Authority of India and the National Emergency Management Agency of New Zealand. They reaffirmed the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience building to enhance the resilience of communities, infrastructure, and institutions in both countries.
Agriculture and Innovation
The leaders looked forward to advancing research, innovation, and practical solutions to support more sustainable, productive, and climate-resilient agriculture and food systems.
Visa Issues
Addressing a special media briefing on PM Modi's visit, Secretary (East) in the MEA, Rudrendra Tandon, stated that visa decisions are a sovereign matter for New Zealand. He said, "On visas, this is actually a question you need to address to the New Zealand side. That's a sovereign decision. In the sense that as long as our businesses can work, our students get to study, they get the exchanges as planned by the two sides are taking place. Visa decision and conferring visas is a sovereign decision that we can't really comment upon at this juncture."
