Cook Islands PM Defends China Pact

Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang meeting with his Cook Islands counterpart Mark Brown in Harbin on February 15, 2025. Image via the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Cook Islands’ prime minister on Tuesday defended a new partnership pact with China and urged his country not to depend on handouts from “big brother” New Zealand.

Prime Minister Mark Brown said the accord signed with Beijing offers his small Pacific nation opportunities in trade, infrastructure, and the sustainable use of ocean resources.

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by Agence France-Presse

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