Auckland, July 11 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Saturday (local time) held extensive bilateral talks covering the "entire spectrum of bilateral relations," agreed to elevate ties to a Strategic Partnership, and set a target to double bilateral trade by 2030, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The two leaders met at Government House in Auckland, where Prime Minister Modi was accorded a traditional Maori welcome featuring customary rituals symbolising "peace, respect and welcome" before inspecting a Guard of Honour.

The Prime Ministers held discussions in both restricted and delegation-level formats, with talks spanning trade and investment, defence and security, agri...