External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Monday on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on 27th October, 2025, where the two leaders reiterated their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and ensuring peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific region. Dr Jaishankar, who represented Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 20th East Asia Summit, described the encounter as “a pleasure” in a post on X.
“A pleasure meeting PM Christopher Luxon of New Zealand on the sidelines of ASEAN 2025 meetings. Extended warm greetings from PM Narendra Modi. Welcome his commitment to advance our bilateral cooperation and nurture a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he wrote.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), discussions centred on enhancing cooperation in trade, defence, and regional security. India and New Zealand, the MEA noted, have historically shared warm and friendly relations, with both governments seeking to build on a foundation of mutual respect and shared democratic values. Mr Luxon’s visit follows his trip to India earlier this year, when he led a senior business delegation to explore investment and trade opportunities. During that visit, both countries agreed to initiate talks on a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) aimed at boosting economic growth and diversifying markets.
The New Zealand Prime Minister had also met with Mr Modi in New Delhi in March, where the two leaders discussed strengthening defence and maritime partnerships, as well as upholding peace and stability in the wider Indo-Pacific. Their discussions at the time also underscored the importance of joint efforts in tackling climate change and promoting sustainable development. In a joint statement released following Monday’s meeting, both sides reaffirmed their intention to deepen collaboration across multiple sectors. They also urged the international community to take decisive action against terrorist organisations listed by the United Nations Security Council.
New Zealand’s recent decision to join two India-led global initiatives — the Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) — further reflects Wellington’s growing engagement with New Delhi’s regional and global vision. Officials said the meeting in Kuala Lumpur served as another step in advancing the “shared aspirations for a secure, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific”, with both nations pledging to sustain momentum in the months ahead.
