International: After attending the ASEAN-India Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held 'productive' bilateral meetings with his counterparts from New Zealand and Japan. Christopher Luxon, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, said he had a "fantastic" meeting with Modi and expressed his determination to build a deeper, broader and stronger relationship with India.
Prime Minister Modi met Luxon and his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba, who was recently appointed to the top position after his predecessor's surprise resignation earlier this year, on the sidelines of the 21st ASEAN-India Summit. He is expected to meet more leaders during his two-day visit in Laos as he will also address the 19th East Asia Summit.Describing his meeting with PM Modi, Luxon said, "It was really a fantastic meeting and we look forward to continuing to deepen and broaden that relationship as well. He (PM Modi) very kindly invited us to India and we'll work with officials on the right timing for that. But there'll be a lot of enthusiasm back home in New Zealand as we will bring a big delegation as well, looking at the opportunities to work together."
The two Prime Ministers discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation across a range of areas including trade and investment, defence and security, renewable energy, education, dairy, agri-tech, sports, tourism, space, and people-to-people ties. PM Modi welcomed New Zealand’s decision to join the International Solar Alliance, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
"Had an excellent meeting with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr Christopher Luxon. We value our friendship with New Zealand, bound together by a commitment to democracy, freedom and rule of law. Our talks covered sectors such as economic cooperation, tourism, education and innovation," said PM Modi on X.
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