South Korean President Applauds New Zealand PM’s Welcome Message for Modi

South Korean President’s Warm Reply to NZ PM’s Welcome for Modi Draws Attention

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in New Zealand on Friday was accompanied by a warm welcome from New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, but an unexpected message from South Korean President Lee Jae-myung added an extra diplomatic flourish to the occasion.

After Luxon welcomed Modi on X, President Lee reposted the message and conveyed his wishes for the continued friendship and prosperity of both India and New Zealand. “Wishing for the friendship and progress of both India and New Zealand,” Lee wrote while sharing Luxon’s post.

Prime Minister Modi later responded to the South Korean President, thanking him for his message.

“Thank you President Lee Jae-myung for your kind wishes. Such thoughtful messages from friends are always cherished,” Modi posted on X.

• Luxon Welcomes Modi to New Zealand
• Earlier, Christopher Luxon greeted the Indian Prime Minister with a simple message on X:
• “Welcome to New Zealand, Prime Minister @narendramodi.”

The post included a video of Modi’s arrival in Auckland, where the two leaders were seen greeting each other warmly with an embrace.

Historic Visit After Four Decades

Modi’s visit is the first by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in over four decades. The two-day trip, undertaken at Luxon’s invitation, is expected to deepen cooperation across trade, investment, defence, technology, education and other key sectors.

The visit comes against the backdrop of growing economic ties between the two countries. Earlier this year, India and New Zealand signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) covering trade in goods and services, investment and workforce mobility, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations.

President Lee’s public endorsement of the India-New Zealand engagement added a notable diplomatic dimension to the visit, reflecting the growing emphasis on cooperation among Indo-Pacific partners.