Cook Islands and China should leverage their complementary advantages in practical cooperation, strengthen collaboration in key areas, such as marine resource development and protection, and better support the Cook Islands’ economic development and improve people’s livelihoods, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while meeting with the Cook Islands’ Foreign Minister Tingika Elikana in Xiamen City, southeast China’s Fujian Province.

Elikana is in Xiamen to attend the third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

The relations between China and the Cook Islands are not targeted at any third party and represent mutual assistance between Global South countries, Wang said.

China always values its relations with the Cook Islands, supports the Pacific Island country in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independently choosing a development path suited to its national conditions, accelerating its development and revitalisation, and playing its due role in international and regional affairs, Wang added.

Noting that China appreciates the Cook Islands’ adherence to the one-China principle, the Chinese foreign minister said China is a “trustworthy and reliable partner” for the Cook Islands and stands ready to maintain exchanges at all levels, enhance mutual understanding, deepen strategic mutual trust and firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns.

“China fully understands the special concerns of small island states like the Cook Islands regarding climate change and is willing to work with the Cook Islands to uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and jointly build a fair, reasonable, and win-win global climate governance system,” Wang added.

Echoing Wang, Minister Elikana said the Cook Islands has always regarded China as an important partner and appreciates China’s long-term strong support and assistance for its development.

The Cook Islands will unswervingly adhere to the one-China principle and is willing to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China in various fields to further advance bilateral relations, Elikana said.

Elikana also expressed hope that the third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will create opportunities to deepen cooperation between China and Pacific island countries and strengthen solidarity among island nations.

• CGTN