New Zealand wants to be a part of India's growth story:Gov Gen

Greeting President Pranab Mukherjee with a traditional 'Namaskar', New Zealand Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae hosted a banquet in his honour where he said his country wants to be a part of India's growth story in a speech dominated by sports especially cricket.
Highlighting the importance of India in New Zealand, Mateparae said it is people-to-people links that underpin our bilateral relations.
"New Zealand is home to people from all over India...As a testament to this Hindi is the fourth-most spoken language in New Zealand...We also have shared heroes. Mahatma Gandhi is an admired figure in New Zealand; and Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's legacy as Everest pioneers is also well known in India.

"And of course, we have a shared love of hockey and cricket...Cricketers such as Sir Richard Hadlee, Stephen Fleming, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Daniel Vettori are well known in both countries. I would note that last night former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum helped the Gujarat Lions to a nail-biting win over MS Dhoni's Supergiants!," he said as the audience smiled in acknowledgement.
Noting that New Zealand has ambitious goals to develop closer political and economic relations with India, he said Indian President's visit and a recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Kiwi counterart John Key "augers well for closer political ties."

"On the economic front, we want to grow our links in trade, investment, education, skilled migration and tourism. In that regard, New Zealand welcomes the Indian Government's focus on business, its energetic international engagement and its ambitious modernisation agenda. New Zealand wants to be a part of India's growth story," he said.

Mukherjee, in his banquet speech, acknowledged that both the countries should strive for more closer cooperation of all sides including on the economic front.
"We note with satisfaction a new momentum in our bilateral relations...In 2013, our bilateral trade crossed one billion US dollars. However, given the relative size of our economies and the wide convergence of interests in many areas, we both agree that the present level of trade and investment needs to be vigorously advanced in order to realise its substantial potential," the President said.

He said New Zealand has made tremendous progress in dairy development, food processing, communications and information technology, clean energy and water, disaster management, biotechnology, healthcare and services.
"We would very much like to enhance our bilateral co-operation in these areas, learn from the successful experience and practices of New Zealand and collaborate with you in creating new and innovative products and technology.
Touching the international issues, the President said
both countries recognise the imperatives of strengthening the UN system and other international organisations.
"We would like to see them reformed so that they remain relevant and effective in addressing the challenges that confront the world today. In this context, India stands ready to shoulder greater responsibilities in the international arena. In the United Nations Security Council, New Zealand has addressed issues of global security and highlighted the challenges faced by smaller states.

"The impressive support that New Zealand garnered in last year's UNSC election revealed both the quality of your diplomacy and the trust that other countries have placed in you. We look forward to enhanced cooperation between our two countries both in the regional as well as global context," he said.
Mateparae had earlier stated in his speech that India has the potential to influence the direction and success of the wider Asia-Pacific region including New Zealand.
"A successful India will, over the next twenty years, draw global and regional attention, and with that commerce, jobs and opportunities. As active members of the Asia-Pacific region, India and New Zealand have a common stake in the prosperity and stability of our region.

"We work closely together in settings such as the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum to advance our mutual interests. New Zealand and India also work constructively together as members of the Commonwealth and the UN," he said.
He appreciated India's support for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2015-2016 and said "New Zealand remains supportive of Indian permanent membership of any reformed UN Security Council."
Mukherjee said the two countries recognised broad convergence of interests on regional and global issues and appreciated New Zealand's support for India as a member of a reformed and expanded UN Security Council.

"Both New Zealand and India share common concerns in our fight against international terrorism. We have been working together in regional and multilateral fora on this and other key issues including disarmament, climate change and sustainable development," he said and hoped that more doors will be opened "as we establish a robust trade, economic and political partnership.