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RNZ News
5 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Cook Islands deal has ‘nothing to do with military or security agenda', says Chinese ambassador
By Losirene Lacanivalu , Cook Islands News People's Republic of China (PRC) ambassador to New Zealand, Cook Islands and Niue, Wang Xiaolong, with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and Assistant to the Minister responsible for the Prime Minister, Sonny Williams, with placards showing the China-funded inter-island vessel, electric bus and E-motorcycle. Photo: Cook Islands News / X/WANGXIALONG The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) 2025-2030 signed between the Cook Islands and China has 'nothing to do with military or security agenda', says the Chinese ambassador to New Zealand, Cook Islands and Niue. Dr Wang Xiaolong, who was in Rarotonga last week to attend the country's 60th anniversary, told Cook Islands News that, "together with the Cook Islands side, we have taken a completely transparent and open approach towards what we are trying to do together". "And those four documents that were signed have been fully published. And everyone could see for themselves that our cooperation is focused on economic partnership, and what we could do to support the economic development of the Cook Islands. "It has nothing to do with military or security agenda. I think it is very clear that the cooperation is largely concentrated on economic cooperation." In February this year, the Cook Islands signed the four key agreements, including the Action Plan for Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) 2025-20230, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Deepening Blue Economy Cooperation, MoU for the Blue Partnership in Seabed Minerals Affairs and Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation. The move created a diplomatic row between New Zealand and the Cook Islands, resulting in New Zealand pausing over $18 million in core sector support funding. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters earlier said the Cook Islands failed to properly consult New Zealand concerning any agreements it planned to sign with China. The Cook Islands officials have been meeting their counterparts in NZ in an effort to mend diplomatic ties and resume funding support from its constitutional partner, New Zealand. The Cook Islands marked 60 years of self-governance in free association with New Zealand on 4 August. When asked about his views on the controversy surrounding the Cook Islands-China agreement, Ambassador Wang said, "And as for some of the negativity that has been shown by some of the other partners, we have always made it very clear to both the Cook Islands side and to some of the other partners that might be involved in this, that what we're trying to do with the Cook Islands is not targeted at any other country." "And it shouldn't be subjected to any intervention from other countries as well. In fact, as far as China is concerned, we would be open to opportunities to work together with some of the other partners, including New Zealand, including Australia, to together support Pacific Island countries like the Cook Islands." "And actually, between China and New Zealand, we have done it before … as far as we're concerned, we are open and we're ready to explore with all the other partners for such opportunities, so that the Cook Islands people could benefit from what we try to do together." Ambassador Wang says China has had a very strong relationship with the Cook Islands for over 28 years. He said within the framework of what, "we call South-South cooperation, it's basically a framework of China as a developing country, helping, trying to help other fellow developing countries, including the Cook Islands". "And within that framework, we have provided support for the development of the Cook Islands, in terms of infrastructure, in terms of education." Ambassador Wang said that in terms of infrastructure development, and in terms of the people-to-people links, "we are very glad that together with the Cook Islands, we have made enormous progress". "And the action plan, that was signed back in February when Prime Minister Brown was visiting China, was actually a further step to build on an already very strong relationship, because we upgraded our relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership back in 2018. "And this time around, what was signed was largely some of the specific actions that we could take to further that relationship, to help the Cook Islands to achieve its goals for sustainable development." According to the Embassy of PRC, during the visit, Ambassador Wang held discussions with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, and the Seabed Minerals Authority, exploring further details of ongoing and future cooperation. He also delivered smart mowers donated by the Suzhou Municipal People's Government, visited Apii Nikao School, and attended a handover ceremony for the annual Ambassador Scholarship and educational supplies from Zhuhai City. Cook Islands will also receive two electric buses and motorbikes from the People's Republic of China (PRC) to support the country's green transport initiatives. Cook Islands government has allocated $3 million to procure a new vessel from China, which is providing the other half of the funding. - Cook Islands News
Newsroom
19-07-2025
- Business
- Newsroom
Luxon goes back to the future on China
Analysis: With Chinese naval ships in the Tasman Sea, a key Pacific partner signing a controversial strategic partnership with Beijing, and open letters from former politicians accusing the Prime Minister of positioning the country as an adversary of China, it has been a tough year for New Zealand's relations with the Asian superpower. But a successful – and drama-free – state visit can work wonders, if the tone at this year's China Business Summit is anything to go by. With last month's trip to Shanghai and Beijing still fresh in his mind, Christopher Luxon kept his rose-tinted glasses on, describing China as 'a vital part of New Zealand's economic story and … a key partner in our pursuit of growth, resilience and opportunity'. Echoing his remarks before his closed-door meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Luxon emphasised the country's global influence as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and the world's second-largest economy. And for all that his Government has drawn criticism for allegedly neglecting the relationship with Beijing, there was an element of Sir John Key – arguably New Zealand's most China-friendly leader – in how Luxon spoke about the economic opportunities offered by the Chinese market. 'You've got a country there with 500 million middle-class people living middle-class standards of life – huge opportunity. We've got an economy growing at 5 percent a year, which is adding essentially an Argentinian economy to it every single year – huge.' Directly addressing Chinese ambassador Wang Xiaolong, the Prime Minister said New Zealand accounted for just 0.3 percent of China's overall trade. 'The opportunity for us is actually to say, 'Well, if you get it from 0.3 to 0.4, you're actually growing our business 25 percent.' There were some notes of caution. Luxon reiterated the Government's desire for greater trade diversification, while emphasising the policy wasn't about choosing other markets over China but instead increasing economic resilience. A question about the Government's efforts to build closer security ties with the US attracted a bit of snark – 'I've seen commentary from politicians and stuff, and that's lovely' – but also a reiteration of his previous line on the matter. 'We can't have prosperity if we don't have security: these issues are now linked, you can't have them in separate buckets, like we've previously done.' But Beijing would likely be pleased with Luxon's overall tone, along with his pledge to have 'a good number of ministers cycling through China' for the rest of the coalition's term. Chinese ambassador Wang Xiaolong said New Zealand and China had 'no conflict of fundamental interest'. Photo: Sam Sachdeva Luxon's positivity was picked up by Wang, who said New Zealand had 'mostly been at the forefront of China's relations with Western developed countries, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both nations'. There was no repeat of Wang's warning last year that any New Zealand involvement in the Aukus security pact would be seen by Beijing as taking sides; he may judge silence is the best approach for now as rumours swirl about whether the Trump administration will seek to substantially amend – or even withdraw from – the alliance. Instead, the ambassador emphasised 'tectonic shifts' in the international landscape, with the shift towards a multipolar world becoming unstoppable as developing nations turned into major players. 'Gone is the era when the world was dominated by one or a small number of countries, which used to monopolise international rule-making and unfairly reaped disproportionate, if not exclusive, benefits of development.' But if power is becoming more distributed among states, China still wants to lay claim to its fair share. Wang spoke about his country's contributions to cutting-edge technology like satellite technology, quantum communications and artificial intelligence, while arguing there was significant potential still to be unleashed in domestic consumption. 'For any nation, decoupling from China is giving up on one-third of global growth opportunities, on nearly half of the world's innovations, and on access to critical resources and capabilities needed for addressing common challenges.' China and New Zealand had 'no conflict of fundamental interest', he said, emphasising the need for mutual respect in the years ahead. 'Our common interests far exceed our differences, which, through common efforts, must not be allowed to be blown out of proportion or get in the way of our cooperation.' There is clearly some residual anxiety about the state of New Zealand-China relations, particularly among Kiwi businesses operating in China. Speaking about the NZ Business Roundtable in China's annual business outlook survey, board director David Boyle said 70 percent of those surveyed felt the bilateral relationship with China was strong – a 14-point drop on last year, and the lowest result since it began. The top recommendation for the Government? 'Continue to clearly articulate New Zealand's independent foreign policy and support for the international rules-based order.' Responding to such unease from Kiwi exporters, while maintaining the linkages between prosperity and security that he has spoken of, will continue to be a challenge for Luxon and his Government.
