PM Modi and New Zealand's Luxon Pay Visit to Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib
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Synopsis
On March 17, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon visited Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in New Delhi, honoring Sikh heritage and bolstering bilateral ties. Their discussions focused on trade, security, and counter-terrorism cooperation, with Luxon's visit marking a significant diplomatic engagement.
Key Takeaways
- Modi and Luxon visited Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib.
- They committed to enhancing bilateral relations.
- Focus on defense cooperation and trade expansion.
- Condemnation of terrorism and joint efforts against it.
- Luxon's visit marks the first in nine years.
New Delhi, March 17 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon visited the historic Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in New Delhi on Monday.
PM Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon offered their respects at the Gurudwara, honoring the rich religious and cultural legacy of the Sikh community.
Earlier that day, the two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to enhancing bilateral relations, expanding trade, deepening defense collaborations, and ensuring peace in the Indo-Pacific region.
In a media briefing after discussions at New Delhi's Hyderabad House, both leaders took a strong position against terrorism and agreed to bolster people-to-people connections.
Luxon, who is on his inaugural official trip to India from March 16-20, marks the first visit by a New Zealand Prime Minister to India in nine years.
During his remarks, PM Modi highlighted Luxon's long-standing ties with India.
"We all witnessed the festive spirit he brought by celebrating Holi in Auckland recently. His affection for the Indian-origin community in New Zealand is clear from the substantial delegation accompanying him on this visit," PM Modi remarked.
The visiting leader is set to participate in the inaugural session of the Raisina Dialogue, India's premier conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, as the chief guest, which PM Modi stated reflects his leadership and engagement with India. The discussions encompassed a variety of topics, including trade, security, and investment, resulting in several key agreements.
The two leaders consented to institutionalize defense and security cooperation, concentrating on joint exercises, training programs, and collaboration in the defense sector.
On the subject of terrorism, both leaders unequivocally condemned incidents like the 2019 Christchurch attack and the 2008 Mumbai attacks, reiterating that terrorism in any form is intolerable.
"Taking strict action against perpetrators of terrorist acts is crucial. We will persist in our cooperation against terrorist, separatist, and fundamentalist factions," PM Modi emphasized, urging New Zealand's ongoing support in combating anti-India activities by illegal elements in the nation.
Luxon, while addressing the media, commended the robust people-to-people connections between the two nations. "We have just wrapped up a series of highly fruitful meetings and witnessed numerous government-to-government arrangements that will enhance the burgeoning ties between India and New Zealand," he stated.
