Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a strategic partnership on Saturday.
The leaders agreed on a roadmap for expanding cooperation and set a target of doubling bilateral trade in goods and services to ₹35,000 crore by 2030. They also unveiled a framework for Indo-Pacific maritime cooperation and a reciprocal logistics support pact between their armed forces.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh highlighted former New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange’s role in the 1980s in reviving ties, including assistance in developing India’s dairy industry and establishing AIIMS.
The two prime ministers also paid tribute to the 1926 hockey tour led by Dhyan Chand that first connected the nations through sport.
