Closer defence ties with India signalled

JOHN HARTEVELT IN NEW DELHI

Last updated 06:42 29/06/2011

Text Size

0 of 0

PM John Key meets with Indian PM Manmohan Singh at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

« Previous« PreviousNext »Next »

Relevant offers

Politics

Treaty obligations to stay in SOE sales law McCully email thief could be Kiwi PSA disappointed Key won't discuss cuts Delays in privatising ACC work account No background checks on Education ministry staff Labour fears for Kiwis in ministry shake-up Defence staff eye leaving as morale falls No run on Kiwi farms - Key Crown account deficit soars Maori Party warns Government over SOE sales

A closer defence relationship with nuclear-armed India has been forged out of bi-lateral talks between Prime Minister John Key and his counterpart Manmohan Singh.

Key was hosted at Hyderabad House over night (NZ time) for a visit that culminated in a state banquet.

After their meeting, both Key and Singh were positive about the progress for a free trade deal between the two countries.

The surprise element was a strong focus on defence and strategic issues.

Singh said that "the time [had] come" for the two countries "to intensify cooperation and consultations on issues relating to the Asia Pacific region".

New Zealand and India both had a stake in ensuring the safety of sea lanes, of communications and combating piracy. Both countries had agreed to "explore possibilities for greater cooperation in these areas," Singh said.

A joint statement issued after the meeting said the two Prime Ministers had agreed to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation. Ship visits and staff college exchanges had already deepened bilateral defence cooperation to the benefit of both sides, the statement said.

Key said the discussions were "very positive".

There was no room for complacency, however, and there was the potential for far deeper and richer cooperation.

He announced the appointment of a New Zealand defence advisor to India, which would help facilitate better defence ties.

"We will work together to deepen our defence relationship," Key said.

He had promised before the meeting to raise India's poor record on nuclear weapons proliferation but he did not mention this in his statement to the media afterwards.

The joint statement, however, noted: "Both sides share the vision of a nuclear weapon free world. New Zealand welcomes increased engagement between India and the multilateral export control regimes."

Key confirmed he had offered New Zealand's support for India's membership of a reformed United Nations Security Council.

He described a "targeted set of initiatives" for growing the relationship with India. Among them were agreements on film co-production and education.

The film co-production agreement gives approved film and television projects access to funding and incentives in the partner country.

The $1 million education agreement established a new Education Cooperation Council to organise scholarships and internships between the two countries.

On trade, Singh said talks for a free trade agreement were "proceeding well and in the right direction".

"New Zealand has proven strengths in the dairy, agriculture, food processing and renewable energy sectors. These are areas of great relevance to our development priorities. The Indian services sector can similarly contribute to New Zealand's economic competitiveness," Singh said.

Key said he had made the FTA a high priority and that a high quality deal promised mutual benefits and a platform for expansion of the business relationship.

Key continues on to Mumbai today, where he will go on to the set of a Bollywood film that was partially shot in New Zealand earlier this year.

Ad Feedback

It is expected that Bollywood megastar Abhishek Bachchan will be on set for Key's visit.

- © Fairfax NZ News