The Cook Islands and The Republic of Ecuador formalised diplomatic relations last week through a signing of joint communiques at the Cook Islands High Commission in Wellington.
The signing of the Joint Communiqué between Cook Islands High Commissioner H.E Kairangi Samuela and Ecuador Ambassador H.E. Victor Arturo Cabrera Hidalgo, who is resident in Canberra, Australia brings the number of countries that have formalised diplomatic relations with the Cook Islands to sixty-six.
In addition to the signing of a Joint Communiqué establishing diplomatic relations, the Cook Islands Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen Cook Islands fisheries cooperation with the Republic of Ecuador. The fisheries MOU expands on previous informal collaboration between MMR and Ecuador's Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade Investment, and Fisheries to expand bilateral cooperation and strengthen their engagement in the regional fisheries arena. The MOU was signed by MMR Secretary of Marine Resources Pam Maru and Ambassador Hidalgo.
The Cook Islands look forward to developing cooperation with the Republic of Ecuador in fisheries, oceans management, cultural and people-to-people connections.
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