New Delhi, October 20
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark today asked India to sign nuclear non-proliferation and comprehensive test ban treaties besides curbing economic protectionism to facilitate greater market access.
“While New Zealand and India see eye to eye on most issues, there are inevitably some points of difference... We have always urged nations to become parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty”, she said.
New Zealand declared itself
nuclear free in the 80s and remains proudly so, she said while addressing an industry function here.
She said her country saw India as more fully engaged internationally now than at any time since the 60s.
“It is important for us to have a stepped up dialogue with India on a wide range of issues, from those of mutual interest in the Asia-Pacific, West Asia, Central Asia to the WTO’s Doha Round and United Nations reform”, she added.
Ms Clark also expressed concern that her country’s export growth had been constrained by continuing high levels of protection in India and a higher exchange rate.
