On PM Modi’s visit to New Zealand, Kiwi PM Christopher Luxon described cricket as a special connection between India and New Zealand. He also underlined the importance of the new Sports Joint Action Plan while sharing his experience of playing street cricket in Delhi.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon highlighted the enduring role of cricket in strengthening relations between India and New Zealand, and also underlined the importance of the recently agreed Sports Joint Action Plan between the two countries.
Speaking at the ‘Gala Lunch’ event hosted by the Kiwi Prime Minister in honor of his Indian counterpart PM Modi in Auckland, PM Luxon recalled his experience of playing street cricket with the children of STAIRS Foundation during his official visit to India in March last year.
Cricket Connection and Sports Collaboration
Luxon said, “Cricket will always have a special connection, and New Zealanders know the kind of passion that India brings to the game. I experienced this passion firsthand while playing street cricket with the STAIRS Foundation kids in Delhi. My team included the great Indian Kapil Dev, and we were playing against a New Zealand team that had Ajaz Patel and Ross Taylor. During that match, I jokingly asked Ross Taylor whether the great Ross Taylor could get out a 13-year-old kid. And look, on the very next ball, he was bowled by an 11-year-old Indian kid bowling at 110 kilometers per hour. It once again showed me the passion that defines our rivalry in cricket.”
Emphasizing the importance of sports cooperation beyond the cricket field, the New Zealand Prime Minister said, “The Sports Joint Action Plan we have agreed this morning is very important because it will strengthen our relationships across coaching, youth sports, women’s and girls’ sports, high-performance sports, science, technology, tourism and trade. It turns our shared passion into a much deeper collaboration.”
Historic tour after 40 years
Luxon’s comments came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Auckland on the last leg of his six-day tour of Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand. The Kiwi prime minister hosted a gala lunch in honor of PM Modi, who arrived in Auckland on Friday at the invitation of Luxon.
The visit is the first by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in 40 years and follows the signing of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement earlier this year, a development that both leaders believe will accelerate trade and bilateral cooperation.
Earlier during delegation-level talks, PM Modi described the visit as a milestone in bilateral relations and thanked the New Zealand government for its warm hospitality. PM Modi said, “I am very happy that after 40 years an Indian Prime Minister has visited New Zealand. By organizing an event in your economic capital, you have created an opportunity to inject new strength into the relations between India and New Zealand. I am very grateful.”
The Prime Minister also received a traditional Māori pōhiri ceremony at Government House in Auckland, later describing the ceremony as a poignant reflection of New Zealand’s rich cultural heritage.
Expanding partnerships at grassroots level
The renewed focus on sports cooperation is expected to complement the broader partnership between the two countries, with both sides looking to expand cooperation in grassroots development, 精英 performance, sports science, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianetnews Editorial staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)