Urge fairer treatment for Indian students: Jaishankar on visa concerns after meeting NZ counterpart

Auckland, Oct 6: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday held a meeting with his New Zealand counterpart Nanaia Mahuta and discussed several key issues including trade agreement, visa issues and enhancement of people-to-people ties.

 

 

 

In this bilateral meeting, Jaishankar raised the concerns of several Indian students who are struggling to reach New Zealand to pursue their studies due to visa delays with Mahuta. He urged the country to be "fairer and more sympathetic treatment" towards those who have been impacted by the pandemic. Jaishankar is in Auckland on his first visit to New Zealand as External Affairs Minister and held "warm and productive" talks with Nanaia Mahuta.

 

 

"We spoke a bit about the need for better air connectivity. I also raised with the Minister, the concerns that some of our students have faced, students who had to leave New Zealand during the Covid period and who didn't have the opportunity to get their visas renewed. I urged a fairer and more sympathetic treatment for them, also students who are waiting to come to New Zealand to pursue their studies and whether the visa process for them could be hastened," he said.

 

 

Addressing a joint press conference with New Zealand foreign minister Nanaia Mahuta, Jaishankar said, "A large part of our conversation went to strengthening our bilateral relationship." He said both countries should play to each other strengths and work on areas like business, technology, digital, education, talent and agriculture. "And most of all people-to-people ties, because that is at the heart of both of our societies."

 

Answering questions on the ongoing progress of the free trade agreement between the two sides, the minister said the best way of pursuing economic opportunities right now is to encourage more business collaborations. In one of his tweets, the external affairs minister said he also appreciated the exchange of views on international concerns such as the Indo-Pacific and the Ukraine conflict. He also said India values its working relationship with New Zealand in multilateral forums including the UN and Commonwealth.

 

 

Earlier, he called on New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in Auckland on Thursday and conveyed the personal greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Jaishankar discussed ways to deepen India-New Zealand ties with PM Ardern. "Pleasure to call on Prime Minister @jacindaardern of New Zealand. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi. Discussed deepening our bilateral cooperation through focused engagement in areas of strength," Jaishankar tweeted.