Union MEA Jaishankar met New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern

Auckland: Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Thursday, and both discussed boosting greater business collaboration and people-to-people exchanges, PTI reported.

In his first visit to New Zealand as the External Affairs Minister, Jaishankar also conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal greeting to PM Ardern.

He tweeted, "Pleasure to call on Prime Minister @jacindaardern of New Zealand. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi. Discussed deepening our bilateral cooperation through focused engagement in areas of strength."

"Agreed on encouraging greater business collaboration and people-to-people exchanges," he said.

While during his meeting with NZ's foreign minister Nanaia Mahuta, Jaishankar said that nations like India and New Zealand have a particular responsibility of forging a post-colonial order that will provide global prosperity and stability.

"The sum and substance of it was really an understanding that we should play to each other's strengths, which specifically meant business, education, technology, digital world, agricultural trade, talent, and most of all people-to-people connect because that's at the heart of both our societies," he said, about the two nations.

The minister is to join Ardern on the day to felicitate members of the Indian community for their exceptional achievements and contributions.

In a statement on Monday, Jaishankar said, "Both leaders will release India@75 postage stamps to commemorate and showcase Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in New Zealand.

PTI reports that New Zealand has approximately 2,50,000 persons of Indian origin and NRIs, a vast majority of which have made the country their permanent home.