Cook Islands, China sign comprehensive strategic partnership deal raising concerns in New Zealand

Cook Islands signs strategic partnership with China, raising concerns in New Zealand over growing Chinese presence in the Pacific.

The Cook Islands said on Saturday (February 15, 2025) that it signed a comprehensive strategic partnership deal with China, a move expected to raise concerns in New Zealand with which it has constitutional ties.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and Chinese Premier Li Qiang signed the deal in Harbin, the capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang province, Mr. Brown's office said in a statement.

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"This provides opportunities for our government, our private sector and our people to benefit from enhanced partnership opportunities with China in areas aligned with our national interests and long-term development goals," Mr. Brown said.

The partnership established a framework for engagement on "priority areas" like trade and investment, tourism, ocean science, aquaculture, agriculture, infrastructure climate resilience and disaster preparedness, according to the statement.

Mr. Brown said this month he was heading to China seeking the partnership — drawing ire from New Zealand, which is increasingly cautious about China's growing presence in the Pacific region.

The office of New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said in a statement on Saturday that "once available, New Zealand will consider the agreements closely, in light of our interests and our mutual constitutional responsibilities".