EAM Jaishankar To Visit New Zealand, Australia

EAM S Jaishankar will travel to Australia and New Zealand from 5 to 11 October for meetings aimed at improving India's relations with both nations in key areas including commerce and security. However, Jaishankar will be travelling to New Zealand for the first time. 

The first leg of the trip will begin in Auckland, New Zealand, where he will meet with his counterpart Nanaia Mahuta to discuss and review the whole range of bilateral relations.

He will attend an event honouring Indian community members for their outstanding achievements and contributions in Auckland with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. To celebrate and highlight "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" in New Zealand, both leaders will issue postage stamps commemorating "India@75."

Jaishankar will also meet with some ministers, including Priyanca Radhakrishnan, minister for community and diversity and the first person of Indian descent to hold that position in New Zealand. He will also interact with lawmakers, businessmen and others from the Indian diaspora, including students. 

He will also announce the publication of two books: "Modi@20: Dreams Meet Delivery" and "Heartfelt - The Legacy of Faith," which detail Prime Minister Narendra Modi's relationship with the Sikh community.

Later, the minister will dedicate the Indian high commission's brand-new building in Wellington.

He will fly to Canberra and Sydney in Australia on the second half of his trip. He will participate in the Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue (FMFD) with his Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong. Later, he will meet with Richard Marles, the deputy prime minister and defence minister.

Jaishankar will be travelling to Australia for a second time this year. The first was in February to go to Melbourne for the meeting of the Quad foreign ministers.

Additionally, Jaishankar will connect with the Australian Navy, the press and think tanks including Sydney's Lowy Institute.