New Zealand to deepen defence relations with India; indicates support for India's quest for membership of NSG, other export control regimes

New Delhi
28 June 2011

New Zealand will appoint a defence adviser to India to better facilitate defence
linkages, said a joint statement issued towards the end of the talks here Tuesday
between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his counterpart, John Key.

On the occasion both sides signed a protocol for cooperation on science and innovation
and an agreement on audio-visual co-production. The science and innovation protocol for
Cooperation was expected to provide a framework for future scientific exchanges and
research collaboration.

In a statement, Prime Minister Singh said India and New Zealand had agreed on a new
education cooperation initiative which would be jointly funded for promoting partnerships
in higher education and research, and skills and vocational education.

The joint statement said the two prime ministers agreed that regional and global
cooperation should continue to ensure maritime security as both sides recognised the
need for ensuring the safety and security of sea lanes.

New Zealand welcomed increased engagement between India and the multilateral export
control regimes. India is keen on becoming a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group
(NSG), Wassenaar Arrangement, Australia Group, and the Missile Technology Control
Regime (MTCR). New Zealand is a member of the NSG Troika, currently comprising the
Netherlands, New Zealand and Hungary.

Further, the joint statement said that the two leaders discussed global security
challenges and agreed on the importance of collaborating in the international and
regional contexts.

Prime Minister Singh said he and Mr Key reviewed the status of the negotiations on a
bilateral free trade agreement.

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