Debt servicing, inflation and climate resilience were among the issues discussed between the Cook Islands and China during a recent meeting in Auckland, New Zealand.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown met with China’s Ambassador to the Cook Islands, Wang Xiaolong, in Auckland last week.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the discussions touched on issues including debt servicing, inflation, air and sea connectivity and climate resilience.

On the bilateral front, they explored potential areas for expanded co-operation, such as a multi-use transport hub in the Northern Cook Islands, inter-island transportation, digital connectivity, infrastructure, institutional strengthening, cultural exchanges, health, education, and people-to-people links, MFAI said in a statement.

The Cook Islands and China formalised diplomatic relations 27 years ago. Since then, working with China’s central government, they have established several public infrastructures in the Cook Islands, including the Court House, Police Headquarters, the Ministry of Education, Apii Nikao, and the Rarotonga ring main water system.

In recent years, co-operation has also been facilitated through China’s provincial governments, in partnership with Cook Islands government agencies and community-based entities, with assistance provided in agricultural and marine equipment, heavy machinery, and technical expertise.

On the regional front, the two countries collaborate through the Pacific Islands Forum, with China being one of the Forum’s first dialogue partners, joining in 1989.

In addition to Australia and New Zealand, China’s assistance supported the Cook Islands in hosting the 52^nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in 2023. Discussions also covered the outcomes of the 53rd Forum Leaders Meeting held in Tonga the previous week, MFAI said.

They also discussed current and potential future collaboration between the two governments in multilateral fora, including at the International Maritime Organisation, UNESCO, and ICAO, among others. Talks also touched on development support to the Cook Islands through the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank.

The two governments, through their respective Foreign Ministries, are currently working towards finalising a forward co-operation arrangement, expected to be concluded within the coming months.