Special Envoy for Pacific Island Countries Affairs and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, Qian Bo, is scheduled to arrive in the Cook Islands today.

Qian will lead a delegation visiting the Cook Islands from today to Saturday.

He is scheduled to meet with Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the Honourable Tingika Elikana, and Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, and Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum Tepaeru Herrmann.

During his visit, Qian will also meet with select government and business representatives.

The program of engagements for the visit is being coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI).

A spokesperson for the Ministry was unable to share further details, or provide an itinerary, as it was embargoed information, and referred Cook Islands News to China’s embassy in Wellington for further details. 

Cook Islands News contacted the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Wellington and asked who Qian would be meeting here, and when, and if media would have an opportunity to meet His Excellency Bo.

Qian was appointed Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands in February this year.

In April, Cook Island Prime Minister, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration the Mark Brown met with the Ambassador for the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to New Zealand and the Cook Islands, Wang Xiaolong in Rarotonga.  

Ambassador Wang arrived in Rarotonga, in transit on his way back to New Zealand following a visit to Niue.

It was the third visit to the Cook Islands by Ambassador Wang, and talks followed discussions between Ambassador Wang and Foreign Secretary Herrmann held in Wellington in March.

During bilateral discussions, Prime Minister Brown and Ambassador Wang discussed priority co-operation areas, including support towards the Cook Islands economic recovery, improved inter-island transport links and air connectivity, Cook Islands' hosting of the Pacific Islands Forum, and future economic and political co-operation.

Ambassador Wang was accompanied by a business delegation of eight who stayed in Rarotonga for talks with the business community.  

PM Brown said at the time he welcomed the opportunity to catch up with Ambassador Wang and was particularly pleased that Air Rarotonga was able to bring the Ambassador and his business delegation from Niue to Rarotonga.

Improved flight connectivity and uplift had been at the forefront of the national economic recovery efforts, and the expanded connectivity offering of Air Rarotonga, within the region, would strengthen Cook Islands economic resilience into the future.

During his visit, the Ambassador also met with Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tingika Elikana, and Foreign Secretary Tepaeru Herrmann. Foreign Affairs officials of both governments continue to work on the bilateral strategic partnership arrangement which is intended for signing later this year.