Strengthening Ties In The Indo-Pacific: Jaishankar Meets New Zealand PM Luxon At ASEAN Summit

In a significant diplomatic engagement, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held talks with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during the ASEAN Summit 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The meeting underscored India and New Zealand’s shared commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and promoting stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Major takeaways 

• Jaishankar extended greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and welcomed Luxon’s commitment to advancing bilateral cooperation  
• The leaders discussed enhancing trade and economic engagement, with a focus on sustainable development and digital innovation  
• Both sides reaffirmed support for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, emphasizing maritime security and regional stability  
• The meeting coincided with the 50th anniversary of ASEAN–New Zealand relations, marking a milestone in regional diplomacy  
• New Zealand is set to finalize a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN, aligning with India’s Act East policy  
• The dialogue also touched on multilateral cooperation, climate resilience, and people-to-people exchanges  
• Jaishankar’s engagements at the summit included meetings with other strategic partners, including the US Secretary of State

Notable updates  

• The ASEAN Summit 2025 serves as a platform for India to deepen its strategic footprint in Southeast Asia  
• The India–New Zealand dialogue reflects growing convergence on global issues, including supply chain resilience and cybersecurity  
• Both nations are exploring new avenues for collaboration in education, technology, and clean energy

This meeting reinforces India’s proactive diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific and highlights New Zealand’s evolving role in regional security and economic frameworks.

Sources: WebIndia123, Lokmat Times, NewsOnAir, Tribune India