China ready for ‘in-depth’ talks as Premier Li Qiang set to meet Cook Islands leader

Cook Islands’ expected partnership deal with China has triggered tensions between the South Pacific nation and New Zealand

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Prime Minister Mark Brown of the Cook Islands is in China for a week-long state visit until Sunday. Photo: AP

Published: 8:16pm, 13 Feb 2025Updated: 9:22pm, 13 Feb 2025

China stood ready for “in-depth” talks with the Cook Islands, Beijing said on Thursday, a day before a meeting between Premier Li Qiang and visiting Prime Minister Mark Brown.

According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Brown will attend the closing ceremony of the Asian Winter Games on Friday in the northeastern city of Harbin, where he will also meet Li.

“China is willing to take Prime Minister Brown’s visit as an opportunity to have an in-depth exchange of views with the Cook Islands and work together to promote continued progress in bilateral ties,” ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.

Brown and his delegation earlier visited Shanghai and the eastern province of Shandong, Guo said.

Cook Islands’ Prime Minister Mark Brown (third right) is shown around the National Deep Sea Centre in Qingdao, Shandong province, earlier this week. Photo: Facebook via Reuters

In a social media post on Thursday, Brown spoke of “critical discussions” with Chinese institutions on the environment, deep sea exploration and economic cooperation.

The conversations had “opened the door to new areas of collaboration”, he wrote, including expanding marine research capabilities and new aquaculture opportunities through Chinese partnerships.