Venu Menon
Wellington, August 8,2024
Indian President Droupadi Murmu alighted from the Bharatiya Vayu Sena flight on a chilly and gusty morning in Wellington today.
She was received by New Zealand Minister for Social Development and Employment Louise Upston, High Commissioner of India to New Zealand Neeta Bhushan, and others.
Yet another warm welcome awaited President Murmu at the Government House where she was greeted by Governor General of New Zealand Dame Cindy Kiro and accorded a Royal Guard of Honour.
The visiting Head of State also received a traditional Māori “Powhiri” (welcome) at the Government House.
Bilateral talks ensued where “various aspects of bilateral ties and ways to unlock the potential of the India-New Zealand partnership were discussed,” as per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of New Zealand Winston Peters called on President Murmu and held discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation, specifically in the areas of trade, culture, sports, defence, and traditional medicine.
Education ties
Delivering the keynote address at the New Zealand International Education Conference (NZIEC), President Murmu outlined her vision and the strides made by India in education, embodied in the National Education Policy 2020. She emphasised the importance of developing cross-border partnerships in education.
India is the Guest of Honour at this year’s NZIEC, reflecting the significance attached to education in the bilateral relationship.
President Murmu called for deepening the bond between the two countries through education.
“Indian parents aspire for the best possible education for their children, and it is indeed welcome that many Indian students are gaining access to quality education at various institutions in New Zealand. Eight thousand Indian students are pursuing various courses across New Zealand making it the second largest group in international students here,” President Murmu noted.
Mahatma Gandhi honoured
President Murmu and Dame Cindy Kiro paid floral tributes at the iconic statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside the Wellington Railway Station.
They also laid wreaths at the Pukeahu War Memorial Park in memory of the martyrs who laid down their lives for New Zealand .
Media briefing
Addressing a media gathering, MEA Secretary (East) Jaideep Mazumdar spoke of the shared values of India and New Zealand “based on democracy, rule of law and a common love of sports.”
Mazumdar highlighted the “steady progress in our bilateral cooperation” in the areas of commerce, education, defence, science and technology, and agriculture.
President Murmu’s visit assumes significance as it is the “second presidential visit to New Zealand in eight years, which shows the priority that we attach to our relations with New Zealand and the Pacific region,” Mazumdar observed.
President Murmu is accompanied on this visit by Minister of State George Kurien, along with two Members of Parliament, Saumitra Khan and Jugal Kishore .
The handing over of instruments for ratification on the International Solar Alliance (ISA) by New Zealand was scheduled for later in the evening. There will also be an exchange of an “agreement on arrangement for customs cooperation,” aimed at strengthening trade and “smoothening customs formalities between the two countries.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is scheduled to call on President Murmu, prior to a state banquet in her honour.
Venu Menon is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Wellington
