India, New Zealand Chart Strategic Convergence on Trade, Defence, Indo-Pacific

India and New Zealand on Monday stated their growing strategic convergence across a wide range of sectors during the sixth round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in New Delhi. 

The talks, led by Dr. Neena Malhotra, Secretary (South) at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Grahame Morton, Deputy Secretary for the Americas and Asia Group at New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, covered a comprehensive review of bilateral ties and regional cooperation.

Image Source: MEA India

The consultations focused on deepening engagement in key sectors including defence and security, trade and investment, education, agriculture, traditional medicine, customs cooperation, skilled mobility, climate action, and sports diplomacy. 

Both sides also reviewed the progress made on bilateral agreements and joint announcements stemming from the visit of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to India in March 2025.

Regional and multilateral cooperation featured prominently, with shared views on the Indo-Pacific, ASEAN, and the United Nations. 

The two delegations agreed to scale up collaboration in multilateral platforms and maintain regular high-level exchanges and institutional dialogue mechanisms.

The latest round of FOC also served as a follow-up to New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ visit to India in May 2025, further consolidating diplomatic momentum generated by recent reciprocal visits, including President Droupadi Murmu’s trip to New Zealand in August 2024 and Prime Minister Luxon’s engagements in India earlier this year.

The next round of consultations will be hosted by New Zealand in Wellington at a mutually agreed time.