India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced that New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will visit India next week. Luxen will make a five-day visit to New Delhi at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Despite a warm bilateral relationship between India and New Zealand, the visit is of great significance in a geopolitical change, especially as U.S. President Donald Trump restores power and the need for free trade agreements. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited PM Luxon next to the Asean-India Summit in Vientiane, Laos in October last year.
The importance of visit: Indian perspective
According to the MEA, PM Luxon will be in India from March 16 to 20, 2025. He will accompany a high delegation, including ministers, senior officials, businesses, media and members of the Indian diaspora community in New Zealand.
During his visit, Prime Minister Luxon will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 17 March 2025, covering every aspect of India-New Zealand relations. ” said MEA.
India and New Zealand have also been discussing a free trade agreement. New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay pushed the FTA three times in India last year.
China threat
The New Zealand Prime Minister is seeking to expand its global partnership and strengthen ties with the world’s fifth largest economy, a period of rising concern for China. Last week, New Zealand’s chief intelligence officer Andrew Hampton expressed concern about China’s growing influence in the Pacific region. He specifically pointed out that the Cook Islands are autonomous territory with New Zealand’s free association, and Prime Minister Mark Brown signed an agreement with China in February 2025. These agreements cover areas such as education, economy, infrastructure, fisheries, disaster management and subsea mining, and continue to focus in Wellington.
