New Zealand, Sri Lanka to deepen bilateral ties

New Zealand, Sri Lanka to deepen bilateral ties

Xinhua
28 May 2025, 09:45 GMT+10

WELLINGTON, May 28 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand and Sri Lanka have committed to strengthening cooperation across key sectors, following a visit by New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters to Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital.

A New Zealand government statement said on Wednesday that Peters highlighted shared ambitions in education, tourism, agriculture, trade, security, and sport at the conclusion of his visit to Colombo.

Peters' visit, the first by a New Zealand foreign minister to Sri Lanka in over a decade, followed the opening of the New Zealand High Commission in Colombo in 2021 and Sri Lanka's new High Commission in Wellington earlier this year, the statement said.

As island nations reliant on trade, both countries see value in closer collaboration, said Peters, who also announced short-term training opportunities for Sri Lankan officials and launched a new sustainable water and livelihoods initiative.

Peters' next stop is Nepal after leaving Sri Lanka, the second stop on his four-nation tour, following Australia.

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