A free trade agreement with India could be beneficial, but it wouldn't be enough to end our reliance on China.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is in Papua New Guinea for meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as leaders from across the Pacific.

National is calling on Hipkins to get talks restarted on an FTA with the world's most populous country.

Auckland University international relations expert Stephen Hoadley told Mike Hosking that while that would be a good idea, we shouldn't overestimate its potential benefits.

He says India can't be ignored as it will soon be the world's third largest economy, but India isn't interested in importing dairy products.

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