Enjoying warm relations between them, India and New Zealand are keen to strengthen bilateral relations

India and New Zealand on Tuesday held the third Foreign Office Consultations in a virtual format and comprehensively reviewed the ongoing bilateral cooperation.

During the meeting, both sides discussed the steps to be taken to enhance the depth and momentum of engagement in different areas including defence and security, trade and investment, space, counterterrorism, cyber security, disarmament and climate change, and for strengthening people-to-people ties.

Both sides also discussed response to COVID-19 pandemic and access to vaccines and medicines for containing COVID globally.

Besides, the two countries exchanged views on various regional and international issues.

“They reiterated the importance of closer cooperation for a rules-based international order and a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. They also discussed ways to strengthen coordination in multilateral and regional fora,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The Indian side was led by Secretary (East) Riva Ganguly Das, while the New Zealand-side was led by Mark Sinclair, Deputy Secretary, Americas and Asia Group, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The consultations were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere. Both sides agreed to hold the next consultations at a mutually convenient date.

The previous round of consultations took place on February 5, 2019 in New Delhi.