Article Posted on : - Oct 27, 2016

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with the New Zealand PM John Key deliver their joint statement in New Delhi on Wednesday. A PTI photo.

NEW DELHI (PTI): India and New Zealand on Wednesday decided to further strengthen the bilateral defence and security ties, especially in the maritime domain.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his visiting Kiwi counterpart John Key underlined that India and New Zealand are both maritime nations with a strong interest in the Asia-Pacific and Indo-Pacific regions being stable and prosperous, by ensuring the safety and security of sea lanes and freedom of navigation.

They decided to explore prospects for information sharing in support of our mutual interests in maritime security.

A joint statement issued at the end of the meeting said both leaders also agreed to undertake defence education exchanges, by placing Indian and New Zealand defence personnel on each other's defence courses and staff colleges.

They also decided to encourage naval ship visits to each other's ports, with the next visit of an Indian vessel to coincide with the Royal New Zealand Navy's 75th anniversary commemorations next month.

The two Prime Ministers commemorated the shared history of sacrifice of New Zealand and Indian servicemen and servicewomen, who had fought and served alongside one another around the world over the past century.

They observed that ongoing commemorations of the centenary of World War I were a reminder of this shared history of service and sacrifice.