Auckland [New Zealand], July 11 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Saturday affirmed that education, research, science and technology, and innovation are key pillars of the India-New Zealand relationship, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The two leaders encouraged government agencies, academic institutions, and industry to develop partnerships in agriculture, climate action, digital transformation, science, innovation, and emerging technologies.
The prime ministers recognized education as a central pillar of bilateral ties, supporting people-to-people connections, skills development, research collaboration, and long-term economic partnership. They welcomed the growing links between educational institutions in both countries and agreed to strengthen cooperation to promote student mobility, institutional partnerships, innovation, and mutual understanding.
The leaders also reviewed progress in implementing the 2025 Education Cooperation Arrangement and acknowledged the new institutional partnerships and engagements that have developed since its signing.
Recognizing the shared challenges posed by climate change and the transition to low-emissions, climate-resilient economies, the prime ministers agreed to deepen cooperation through the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. Prime Minister Modi also welcomed New Zealand’s decision to join the Global Biofuels Alliance, the MEA statement said.
The two leaders welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India’s National Disaster Management Authority and New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency. 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.
The prime ministers also expressed their commitment to advancing research, innovation, and practical solutions to support more sustainable, productive, and climate-resilient agriculture and food systems.
Meanwhile, addressing a special media briefing on Prime Minister Modi’s official visit to New Zealand, MEA Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon said visa decisions are a sovereign matter for the New Zealand government.
“On visas, this is actually a question you need to address to the New Zealand side. That’s a sovereign decision. As long as our businesses can work, our students get to study, and the exchanges planned by both sides are taking place, visa decisions and the granting of visas are sovereign matters that we can’t really comment upon at this juncture,” he said. (ANI)
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