Cook Island Prime Minister, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration the Hon. Mark Brown met with the Ambassador for the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to New Zealand and the Cook Islands, His Excellency, Wang Xiaolong in Rarotonga today.
Ambassador Wang arrived in Rarotonga mid-morning, in transit on his way back to New Zealand following a visit to Niue. He arrived on an Air Rarotonga charter flight from Niue and returns to Auckland on an Air New Zealand flight this afternoon.
This is the third visit to the Cook Islands by Ambassador Wang, and today's talks follow discussions between Ambassador Wang and Foreign Secretary Tepaeru Herrmann held in Wellington last month.
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 will remain in Rarotonga for talks with the business community over the next two days.
"I 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," said Prime Minister Brown.
"Improved flight connectivity and uplift has been at the forefront of our economic recovery efforts, and the expanded connectivity offering of Air Rarotonga, within the region, will strengthen our economic resilience into the future."
During his visit, the Ambassador also met with Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. 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.