Chinese province donates equipment to Cook Islands, seeks wider cooperation

The Cook Islands and China’s Guangdong province strengthened ties through the donation of equipment and discussions on future cooperation in areas such as agriculture, fisheries and cultural exchange.

The Cook Islands government has donated various safety equipment, including solar panels, to the Chinese city of Zhuhai and the Provisional People’s Congress of Guangdong Province for use in emergency shelters on the islands, strengthening bilateral relations with the city.

A handover ceremony for the equipment was held at the Cabinet Office on Wednesday and the equipment will be distributed to different departments.

Vice Prime Minister Albert Nicholas welcomes Liu Yahong, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial People’s Congress, and Lin Wu, Vice Chairman of the Zhuhai Municipal Government

Nicholas stressed that the Cook Islands has a long history of diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, adding that this month marks the 17th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Cook Islands and China.^day The anniversary of their official relationship.

He recalled that over the years, exchanges, visits and interactions between Guangdong and the Cook Islands have been frequent, but the arrival of the temporary parliamentary representatives from China’s most popular province in the Cook Islands was of special significance.

“The Cook Islands has enjoyed a special relationship with the Zhuhai Municipal Government over the past nine years which has brought us great benefits, most recently with the installation of sound and television equipment and other donations by the Zhuhai Municipal Government for the Pacific Islands Forum meeting last November,” Mr Nicholas said.

“Our sister city relationship with Zhuhai embodies friendship, cooperation and understanding.

“The people of Zhuhai and the people of the Cook Islands are both coastal inhabitants, so we have a lot in common.

“Together, we can build resilience in our communities so that each of us can protect our culture, environment, economy and way of life.”

The donated equipment includes solar panels and LED lights for cyclone and community shelters, spare parts for previously donated chain saws, other products from the Department of Cultural Development, and teaching supplies for the Confucius Centre at the University of the South Pacific, Cook Islands.

Through years of bilateral cooperation with China, China has provided the Cook Islands with a number of grants and concessional loans to help build some important public infrastructure, including the Ministry of Justice building, the Police Headquarters, the Ministry of Education building, the Nikau National Stadium and the reconstruction of Api Nikau School.

Zhuhai City has also held many successful exchanges with the Cook Islands Department of Marine Resources, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Cultural Development, Commerce, Trade and Investment Committee, Aitutaki Islands Government, Prime Minister’s Office and other departments.

Aitutaki government officials met with a Chinese delegation on Tuesday to discuss establishing a joint relationship dialogue in the areas of marine fisheries, agriculture and energy. Supplied/24071720

Yahong stressed China’s continued support for the Cook Islands and pledged to further strengthen cooperation in future joint projects.

Guangdong is willing to further strengthen pragmatic exchanges and cooperation with the Cook Islands in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, infrastructure, trade, culture, education and other fields, enhance the comprehensive advantages of both sides and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.

“Guangdong is willing to deepen mutually beneficial exchanges and cooperation with the Cook side on the basis of mutual respect and equal treatment, so that the results of cooperation can better benefit the Cook people.”

Deputy Prime Minister Nicholas said: “Thank you for coming and we celebrate together your generous donation of equipment to the Ministry of Cultural Development, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Cook Islands Emergency Management Agency and the agreement with the Aitutaki Islands Government.”

The Aitutaki government said in a statement that it met with the Chinese delegation on Tuesday to explore establishing a joint relationship dialogue in a spirit of friendship and cooperation, particularly in the areas of marine fisheries, agriculture and energy.

Aitutaki Mayor Tekura Bishop said it was a good time to rebuild friendships, especially with Zhuhai, which had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Aitutaki government.

He welcomed the high-level delegation from Guangdong Province, which recognised the opportunity to further deepen relations with the Cook Islands, particularly with Aitutaki in the areas of fisheries, agriculture and energy.

Yahon said the visit was simply a “meet and greet opportunity among friends” to build links between their city and Aitutaki in areas of mutual interest.

“This visit is primarily about building on the ongoing relationship between our two cities and finding ways to help each other promote and strengthen the already existing friendly relations and take them to the next level,” she said.

Bishop acknowledged that Aitutaki still faced many challenges, including tourism, economic development plans, sustainable growth and prosperity, climate change, rising sea levels, global warming and out-migration.

He also reminded the delegation that they did have similarities in customs, traditions and culture.

An exchange of gifts followed by lunch followed the delegation’s field trips to the Department of Marine Resources, Agricultural Farms and Energy, and a tour of Aitutaki’s pristine and beautiful lagoon.

The visit coincided with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Aitutaki Government and Rarotonga’s agricultural cooperative Kai Natura Taokotai’anga KNT, which includes the majority of Aitutaki’s growers who have united to revitalize the island’s agricultural sector.

“This is a first for Aitutaki and has reignited interest in the industry which had been dormant for many years due to a lack of resources, management issues and a lack of commitment from the national government to support Aitutaki’s emerging agricultural industry,” the statement said.

“Aitutaki was initially selected as a pilot project, which also includes Atiu Island, to revitalise the agricultural sector, which will be coordinated through the KNT Cooperative and linked to potential external market outlets in Rarotonga, Paenua and New Zealand.”