Cook Islands was “not privy to or consulted on” any agreements New Zealand may enter into with China during Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s visit this week.
Prime Minister Mark Brown made this comment in Parliament yesterday after NZ paused $18.2 million in development assistance funding to the Cook Islands. NZ cited a breach of trust over the Cook Islands comprehensive strategic agreements with China, which were signed in February this year.
New Zealand had then raised concerns about a lack of consultation, stating that the Cook Islands is required to consult them under the terms of the Joint Centenary Declaration of 2001. PM Brown had earlier stated they had “advised” New Zealand of the agreements, adding that the relationship between the two countries was reciprocal and didn’t require the Cook Islands to seek New Zealand’s permission.
In response to a question in Parliament yesterday about the funding pause, Brown highlighted PM Luxon’s visit to China this week, where he facilitated $871 million of commercial agreements between NZ businesses and their Chinese partners.
“I have full trust that Prime Minister Luxon has entered into agreements with China that will pose no security threats to the people of the Cook Islands. Despite, of course, not being privy to or not being consulted on any agreements that New Zealand may enter into with China,” Brown said.
“I’m sure that on the back of our own state visit earlier on this year, the goodwill that we’ve generated with the People’s Republic of China, he (Luxon) will be able to capitalise on to ensure some good outcomes for the people of the realm of New Zealand.”
Brown also highlighted the announcement that New Zealand’s primary export revenue is on track to reach $60 billion for the first time, with over half of that coming from China.
He mentioned New Zealand’s relaxed visa entry requirements for tourists from China and also for students to be able to study at NZ universities “again will see a significant boost to the New Zealand economy”.
“We wait to see whether any of these benefits will trickle down to not just the Cook Islands but to other Pacific countries as a result of this increased engagement with what is now the world’s largest economy. A reality that the rest of the world recognises that China is now one of the biggest economies in the world that produces goods and services and technology that the rest of the world needs.”
According to RNZ, Luxon will take part in three separate meetings with China’s power players at the Great Hall of the People, a grand state building on the edge of Tiananmen Square.
He will sit down with President Xi on Friday at about 2:30pm (NZT), their second official meeting after a bilateral at APEC in November last year.
Shortly before the sit-down, Luxon will meet Zhao Leji, the chair of the National People’s conference, number three in the hierarchy.
Later that evening, Luxon is expected to return to the Great Hall for an official welcome ceremony with the traditional honour guard and anthems.
He will then meet his counterpart Premier Li Qiang at about 9pm (NZT) and take part in a signing ceremony to close out his China trip.
Luxon has declined to outline the subjects he intends to discuss with China’s top brass but told reporters the two countries had “huge areas of collaboration”.
Source: Cook Islands News
