Indian President Droupadi Murmu Photo: PRAKASH SINGH / AFP
Indian President Droupadi Murmu will visit New Zealand between 7 and 9 August to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro.
Murmu's meeting with Luxon and Kiro is scheduled in Wellington on 8 August after arriving in Auckland a day earlier.
Returning to Tāmaki Makaurau where the majority of Indian New Zealanders reside on 9 August, Murmu will address an education conference and meet members of the Indian community.
"The visit will provide further impetus to India-New Zealand bilateral relations," India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
The visit will be the second by an Indian head of state after then-President Pranab Mukherjee visited in 2016.
Murmu also plans to also visit Fiji on 5-6 August - the first visit by an Indian president to Fiji.
After talks with Fiji President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Murmu will address the Pacific nation's parliament and meet members of the Indian diaspora.
After leaving Auckland on 9 August, Murmu plans to visit Timor-Leste to hold talks with President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão.
Murmu will also meet members of the Indian community on the first-ever visit by an Indian head of state to Timor-Leste.
"The visit underscore the importance India attaches to bilateral relations with these countries and reflects our strong focus on the Act East Policy, which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi 10 years ago at the 9th East Asia Summit in 2014," the Ministry of External Affairs said in its statement.
