The Indian Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand the next week in an effort to strengthen relations in the Asia-Pacific area. According to the ministry, PM Modi will arrive in Indonesia on Monday, proceed to Australia, and conclude his journey in New Zealand on July 11.
The emphasis has “shifted to the eastern maritime zones of the Indian Ocean and our Act East engagement” following PM Modi’s recent trips to Mauritius and the Seychelles and Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s visit to New Delhi this week, according to senior Indian Foreign Ministry official Rudrendra Tandon.
The leaders of the three nations, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto are anticipated to meet with PM Modi during the visits. PM Modi is anticipated to visit the Melbourne Cricket Ground and meet executives from leading Australian businesses while in Melbourne.
India is one of Australia’s biggest economic partners, and the country’s largest overseas population consists of about a million people who were born in India.
The trip to New Zealand coincides with the country’s growing anti-Indian sentiment and difficulties within its ruling coalition brought on by a free-trade deal between the two countries.
In a statement released on Friday, Luxon of New Zealand said, “Prime Minister Modi’s visit is historic, with this being the first to New Zealand by an Indian Prime Minister in 40 years.” In April, New Zealand and India inked a free-trade agreement that will eventually eliminate tariffs on 95% of New Zealand imports and 100% of Indian goods.
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