Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
MP Satnam Sandhu meets New Zealand PM Luxon, holds discussion to strengthen ties in Education, Sports, Culture, Indian diaspora issues
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, March 19, 2025: Prolonged deliberations were held on bolstering ties between India and New Zealand during a meeting held at the residence of High Commissioner of New Zealand to India, Patrick Rata where Member of Parliament Rajya Sabha Satnam Singh Sandhu was a special invitee from India met Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon.
Other prominent figures who attended the meeting were Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, MP, New Zealand, Bhav Dhillon, Patron, India-New Zealand Business Council and former the Honorary Consul of India in Auckland and Professor Himani Sood, Convener NID Foundation among other dignitaries.
The discussions during the meeting primarily remained centered on enhancing ties in the fields of education, sports and deepening cultural ties between the two nations.
Member of Parliament Rajya Sabha, Satnam Singh Sandhu said, “Our discussions with PM Luxon were primarily focused on bolstering ties in the fields of education, sports, forge academic collaborations and deepen cultural ties between the two nations. The discussions were also held on the issues concerning minorities and Indian diaspora.India and New Zealand share strong ties and large number of Indian students visit the country to pursue their higher education and work there. The two nations already have forged academic ties that has been giving new dimensions to the higher education landscape in both the nations and strengthening of these ties further will bode well for both the nations.”
“New Zealand is expanding its educational collaboration with India and offering new scholarships, internships and research partnerships. PM Christopher Luxon announced a NZ $260,000 scholarship package under the New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA) 2025 which is aimed at supporting Indian students pursuing higher education in New Zealand which indeed is a praiseworthy development,” added Sandhu.
“PM Luxon’s visit reflects the growing strategic and diplomatic bond between our nations, built on trust, respect and shared global interests. It also reflects PM Narendra Modi Ji’s global stature and the immense diplomatic trust India commands on the world stage today,” added Sandhu.
Notably, Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon is on a 5-day visit to India. During the visit, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and signed a number of agreements on trade, defence, education, security, science & technology, disaster management, regional & multilateral cooperation and maritime security.
“New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon praised PM Modi's extraordinary achievements including India's 50 precent economic growth, the lifting of 250 million people out of poverty and the elimination of extreme poverty. While endorsing New Delhi’s claim for permanent membership of the UN Security Council, PM Christopher Luxon also said that India plays a key role in the Indo-Pacific since its geo-strategic importance is crucial in an increasingly multipolar world,” added Sandhu.