New Delhi [India], March 17 (ANI): New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Monday acknowledged India's growing economic sophistication, highlighting the country's emergence as a critical source of pharmaceuticals and machinery for New Zealand.

Luxon's speech at the Raisina Dialogue 2025 marked a significant milestone in India-New Zealand relations, the growing diversity of trade between India and New Zealand, shifting beyond traditional wood exports.

Adressing the Raisina Dialogue 2025 inaugural session at Durbar, Luxon said, 'Our trade has diversified considerably from wood, thanks to the increased sophistication of your economy. Today, India is a critical source of pharmaceuticals and machinery for us. While we are a great tourism and education destination for you (India).'

Following the recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday morning, Luxon said, 'Prime Minister Modi and I sat down today, and we charted out the future of our two countries' relationship...We agreed that our defence forces build greater strategic trust with one another while deploying together and training together more.'

The leaders also agreed to foster scientific collaboration on pressing global issues like climate change and space exploration. Additionally, they pledged to support businesses in improving air links and primary sector cooperation.

'We want our scientists to collaborate on global challenges like climate change and commercial opportunities like space. We are supporting our businesses in improving air links and building primary sector cooperation,' he said.

'We will facilitate students, young professionals, and tourists moving between our two countries, and we have instructed our trade negotiators to negotiate a comprehensive free trade agreement between our two great nations,' he added.

Further he also highlighted the long-standing relationship between Indians and New Zealanders, emphasising over two centuries of shared history at the Raisina Dialogue 2025 in New Delhi.

He stated, 'It is more than 200 years since Indians and New Zealanders began living side by side... Just as they were 200 years ago, 'Kiwi-Indians' today are fully integrated into our multicultural society.'

Luxon praised India's democratic process, citing the record-breaking voter turnout of 650 million Indians in the last national election. 'It is an inspiration... Your national election is a triumph of logistics but also a triumph of legitimacy,' he said.

He also emphasized the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. 'We want to live in an Indo-Pacific where countries are free to choose their path free from interference, a region where no one country comes to dominate,' he stated.

'India and New Zealand are so fortunate to live in one of the most economically dynamic regions in the world. The Indo-Pacific represents two-thirds of global economic growth in the coming years...India itself is at the centre of this exciting economic future,' he added.

According to the Consul General of India, New Zealand, Indian exports to NZ mostly are pharmaceuticals/medications, Mechanical Machinery, Made up textile articles and Pearls, Precious stones and Metals..

In terms of cooperation during the Covid-19 pandemic, India and New Zealand worked closely together. In April 2020, the then Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, Winston Peters, had a telephone conversation with India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) to discuss the pandemic. India assisted in repatriating New Zealanders stranded in India and supplied critical pharmaceuticals, including hydroxychloroquine, paracetamol, and azithromycin.

Earlier in the day, the two leaders met at Hyderabad House for a bilateral discussion. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral ties and addressing global challenges during their meeting in New Delhi.

PM Modi stressed the importance of strong action against terrorism, affirming that such threats are unacceptable in any form.

Both nations also announced the launch of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and a new arrangement to facilitate the mobility of professionals and skilled workers, an official press release by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated.

Both leaders recognized that there remains significant potential for further growth in the bilateral relationship and agreed to cooperate closely in diverse areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, education and research, science and technology, agri-tech, space, mobility of people and sports.

Several important bilateral documents were signed during the visit. These include a Joint Statement reaffirming commitments to mutual cooperation, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation between the defence ministries of both countries.

The meeting comes amid a growing push to enhance bilateral ties, with both leaders set to discuss economic cooperation, trade expansion, and regional security. The visit has already seen the announcement of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two nations.

Luxon arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for a five-day visit, including attending the Raisina Dialogue. (ANI)