Modi, Luxon for Open, Inclusive Indo-Pacific

New Delhi: Taking a thinly-veiled jibe at China after “substantive and productive” talks with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that both nations are are opposed to “expansionism” in the Indo-Pacific region, even as the two nations signed six agreements, including a key one on defence cooperation. In his remarks to the media at Hyderabad House in the capital after the talks, Mr Modi also declared that the two nations would begin negotiations towards a Free Trade Agreement and would also work swiftly towards finalising a Migration and Mobility Agreement to “facilitate the mobility of professionals and skilled workers” and encourage mobility of human talent and resources legally while at the same time combating illegal immigration. They noted that, as maritime nations, India and New Zealand have a strong and common interest in an open, inclusive, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, where the rules-based international order is upheld… Both Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to supporting an open, inclusive, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific where sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected.” It added: “The Prime Ministers reaffirmed the right of freedom of navigation and overflights and other lawful uses of the sea in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The New Zealand PM said the Indian men’s cricket team would tour his country in November next year and also joked about how in order to prevent a diplomatic incident, the two leaders avoided mention of New Zealand’s 3-0 recent Test victory over India in India as well as India’s victories over his country in the recently-concluded Champions Trophy tournament in Dubai, to which Mr Modi laughed heartily.