China and the Cook Islands signed an action plan for a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, China's Foreign Ministry says, in an agreement expected to raise concerns in New Zealand.
The co-operation between China and the Cook Islands is not aimed at any third party, nor should it be disrupted by any third party, the ministry spokesperson said a press conference on Monday.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral co-operation documents, including the action plan, last week in the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin, ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters.
The action plan will provide a roadmap for co-operation between the two countries in the fields of economy and environment, culture, society and other areas, Guo said.
Mr Brown has said the deal was not similar to a bombshell 2022 announcement by the Solomon Islands that it would partner with China on security, a pact which caught Australia off-guard.
"Our agreement doesn't have any of those aspects in it," he said last week.
New Zealand, which has constitutional ties with the Cook Islands, has expressed wariness about Beijing's growing presence in the South Pacific amid fears it could destabilise Western influence.
New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters previously signalled alarm with the deal, suggesting his government was blind-sighted.
For 60 years, the Cook Islands has governed in "free association" with New Zealand under a treaty that gives Cook Islanders citizenship of New Zealand, and gives Wellington shared responsibility for foreign affairs and defence.
New Zealand is also the Cook Islands' biggest development partner, giving $US219 million ($A349 million) over the last 15 years: more than double China's aid, and four times the support from Australia.
with AAP
