Xiamen, China – 28 May 2025 -Cook Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs & Immigration the Hon. Tingika Elikana met with his Chinese counterpart the Hon. Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Xiamen this morning ahead of the 3rd China - Pacific Islands Countries Foreign Ministers Meeting.
Bilateral discussions focused on advancing co-operation in select areas agreed by the two governments in the 2025-2030 Joint Action Plan, the MOU on the Blue Economy and the MOU on the Blue Partnership in Seabed Minerals Affairs signed in February this year.
In their discussions, Minister Elikana noted "I welcome the progress our respective officials have made in recent months to support the Cook Islands aspirations to improve inter-island transport links and seabed minerals research and technology capabilities and look forward to continued close collaboration with Minister Wang Yi and Chinese counterparts, at all levels, to advance the economic and climate resilience priorities determined by the Cook Islands," said Minister Elikana.
Minister Wang Yi emphasied that China is a trustworthy and reliable partner for the Cook Islands and is willing to maintain exchanges at all levels with the Cook Islands to enhance mutual understanding, deepen strategic mutual trust, and firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns.
This year marks 28 years of diplomatic relations between the Cook Islands and the People's Republic of China - a partnership that has been jointly built on mutual respect and trust, and respect for self-determination and sovereignty.
The Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) is presently consulting with Cook Islands agencies including the Ministry of Health, Infrastructure Cook Islands, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Marine Resources to determine and prioritise which specific areas under the Action Plan and Agreements signed in February the Cook Islands will pursue partnership and implementation support for of China in the months ahead.
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