Cook Islands signed a number of bilateral cooperation documents with China following a meeting between Prime Minister Mark Brown and Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday in Harbin, China.

The content of these agreements has not yet been made public. PM Brown had earlier committed to publishing the agreements the country will sign with China during his state visit this week.

According to Xinhua, Chinese Premier Li said that China is committed to equality among all countries, big or small, and firmly supports the people of the Cook Islands in choosing a development path suited to their own national conditions independently.

China stands ready to enhance the synergy of the high-quality Belt and Road Initiative and the development strategies of the Cook Islands, and to push for deeper, more solid mutually beneficial cooperation on oceans, infrastructure, agriculture and fisheries, Li said.

China is willing to work with the Cook Islands to uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, address the challenge of climate change, and build a fair, reasonable and win-win global climate governance system.

Li expressed a willingness to deepen political mutual trust and expand practical cooperation with the Cook Islands, aiming to achieve more tangible results and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

China welcomes an increase in imports of quality products from the Cook Islands, and more Chinese people are encouraged to travel to the Cook Islands, Li said, adding that the two countries should strengthen exchange and cooperation in fields such as education, culture, health and youth and increase the number of friendly people-to-people exchanges.

PM Brown said that with nearly 30 years of friendly cooperative relations between the two countries, the Cook Islands always regards China as an important partner and good friend.

He said the Cook Islands attaches great importance to relations with China, will continue to abide by the one-China principle, strengthen multilateral coordination on climate change and in other areas and push for the sustained, in-depth development of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.

Brown expressed his sincere appreciation to China for its strong, long-term support and assistance for the economic and social development of the Cook Islands and other Pacific island countries.

NZ awaits details

The Cook Island-China agreement has drawn criticism from New Zealand, with which the country shares a special constitutional relationship, and Cook Islanders due to a lack of consultation.

A spokesperson for New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters said they are unable to comment on these agreements until PM Brown releases them.

“New Zealand has seen media reporting that the Cook Islands and China have signed a number of agreements, though they have yet to be released,” the spokesperson said.

“We know that the content of these agreements will be of keen interest to the people of the Cook Islands. We note that Prime Minister Mark Brown has publicly committed to publishing the text of the agreements that he agrees in China.”

“For media seeking New Zealand’s substantive comment on these agreements, we are unable to respond until Prime Minister Brown releases them upon his return to the Cook Islands. Once available, New Zealand will consider the agreements closely, in light of our interests and our mutual constitutional responsibilities.

“New Zealand deeply values its unique relationship with the people of the Cook Islands. In 2025, New Zealand is celebrating with the Cook Islands 60 years of free association. The people of the Cook Islands, who are New Zealand citizens, are integral members of the New Zealand family.”