India, New Zealand talks to boost trade and defence ties

New Delhi (PTI) - India and New Zealand Tuesday
discussed a host of international, regional and bilateral
issues with a focus on boosting trade between the two sides
and working towards the early conclusion of a Free Trade
Agreement.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his
counterpart Johan Key held talks during which the two
deliberated upon the enhanced engagement across a range of
trade and economic sectors, including science and innovation,
education and defence.
The two sides also inked two pacts -- Audio-Visual Co-
Productions to build on existing film industry links and
Science and Innovation Protocol for Cooperation.
"India welcomes increased trade and investment flows
between India and New Zealand and would like to expand our
trade significantly beyond current levels. The Prime Minister
and I reviewed the status of our negotiations on the bilateral
Free Trade Agreement. These are proceeding well and in the
right direction," Singh told reporters after the meeting.
He said New Zealand, like India, has a stake in
ensuring the safety of sea lanes of communications and
combating piracy and "we have agreed to explore possibilities
for greater cooperation in these areas."
Key, who was accompanied by Trade Minister Hon Tim
Groser, Member of New Zealand Parliament Kanwaljit Singh
Bakshi and a high level business delegation, is on a three-day
visit to India.
"Commonwealth ties, shared democratic values, people-
to-people and sporting links underpin the vibrant bilateral
relationship between India and New Zealand," said a joint
statement issued after the Prime Ministers' meeting.
Welcoming the increased trade and investment flows
between the two countries, the two leaders "reiterated the
commitment to early conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement
(FTA) negotiations, noting that the ongoing negotiations were
proceeding well".
The two Prime Ministers announced a new Education
Cooperation Initiative. This jointly-funded Initiative, worth
1 million NZ dollar (around Rs 3.6 crores) annually to be
shared equally by New Zealand and India, will promote
partnerships in two key streams; higher education and
research, and skills and vocational education.
On defence front, Key announced that New Zealand will
appoint a Defence Adviser to India to better facilitate
defence linkages. "Both sides noted the need for ensuring the
safety and security of sea lanes and agreed that regional and
global cooperation should continue to ensure maritime
security," it said.
Strongly condemning terrorism in all its forms, the
two Prime Ministers discussed global security challenges and
agreed on the importance of working in international and
regional contexts to achieve stability and prosperity for all.
The two Prime Ministers stressed the importance of
reform of the UN Security Council with Key announcing the
support of New Zealand for India's membership in a reformed
Security Council, including in any expansion of permanent
membership.
New Zealand also welcomes increased engagement between
India and the multilateral export control regimes, the
statement said.
Key thanked Singh for the support and sympathy
extended by Indian government to New Zealand, and especially
to the residents of Christchurch, following the devastating
earthquake on February 22 2011.
The two leaders affirmed the importance of cooperation
on disaster preparedness and emergency response management
systems, a shared area of focus for the two countries working
together in regional forums such as the East Asia Summit.
India and New Zealand cooperate in regional bodies
such as the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum,
ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus and the Asia Europe
Meeting.