Adm R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Indian Navy, visited New Zealand from 29 September to 01 October 22.
The CNS was warmly welcomed in the traditional Powhiri ceremony hosted by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) leadership at the Te Taua Moana Marae and was presented the Ceremonial Guard of Honour at the Navy Ground.
The CNS held detailed deliberations with Rear Admiral David Proctor, Chief of Navy, RNZN. The discussions covered a wide spectrum of maritime cooperation opportunities. Both leaders exhibited enthusiasm towards expanding the scale and scope of bilateral engagements in the coming years. The CNS conveyed compliments to RNZN leadership for their active participation in MILAN-22 and that the Indian Navy was looking forward to maiden participation of young RNZN officers in the upcoming Admiral’s Cup Sailing Regatta, scheduled to be hosted by the Indian Navy in December 2022.
In a milestone development, an Agreement on White Shipping Information Exchange, was signed during this visit. Closer collaboration towards enhancing shared Maritime Domain Awareness is in keeping with convergent views of both countries with regard to promoting greater transparency in the maritime domain.
The visit coincided with the Anniversary Celebrations of RNZN. The CNS was delighted to be the Special Guest at the ‘Beat Retreat and Ceremonial Sunset Ceremony’ held at Auckland to mark this special occasion. The CNS was also provided a comprehensive tour of the Maritime Museum of New Zealand, showcasing the country’s rich maritime heritage. The CNS, accompanied by Shri Bhav Dhillon, Honorary Consul of India at Aukland, also availed the opportunity to meet Indian veterans and community leaders in Auckland.
The visit to New Zealand further consolidated shared commitments of both navies and has set in motion a promising growth trajectory for deeper bilateral maritime engagements.
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