New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark sidestepped differences with India over nuclear disarmament on Wednesday and sought to boost business ties between the two countries during a visit to New Delhi. Clark, the first New Zealand prime minister to visit India in nearly two decades, said the two former British colonies had many things in common to build on -- the widespread use of English, common parliamentary and legal systems and a love of cricket -- despite disagreeing on New Delhi's nuclear programme. "While New Zealand and India see eye to eye on most issues, there are inevitably some points of difference," Clark told business leaders. "New Zealand is one of the world's leading advocates for nuclear disarmament and for nuclear non-proliferation. "We have always urged nationals to become parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)," she said. Clark, whose four-day visit took her to India's technology and financial hubs of Bangalore and Bombay, bemoaned the paltry trade between the two countries -- estimated at about $250 million last year -- despite India's vast size. She said she was keen to push trade, tourism and encourage more Indian students to study in New Zealand.
