Auckland: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his trip to New Zealand on Friday, marking the first visit by a leader of the South Asian nation in 40 years. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon received Modi at the airport, highlighting the significance of the visit.

According to Anadolu Agency, Modi is the first Indian prime minister to visit New Zealand since former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's visit in October 1986. Upon landing in Auckland, Modi expressed his eagerness to engage in discussions with Luxon on the "complete range" of the India-New Zealand "friendship."

The visit "is set to strengthen bilateral ties and unlock new avenues of cooperation across several areas, especially trade, defense, sports, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges," stated Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal. This diplomatic endeavor aims to enhance the relationship between the two nations significantly.

The timing of Modi's visit coincides with tensions within the coalition government in New Zealand, following its recent signing of a free trade agreement with India earlier this year. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, whose New Zealand First party has expressed opposition to the deal, is notably absent from Modi's trip due to his visit to Japan.

In the fiscal year 2023-24, India and New Zealand recorded a total trade value of $1.75 billion, underscoring the economic ties that both nations seek to bolster through this historic visit.