The government of the Cook Islands said on Saturday that it had struck a five-year agreement with China to explore deep-sea minerals.
The deal has raised eyebrows in nearby New Zealand.
The Cook Islands is a self-governing archipelago in the Pacific that maintains very close ties to New Zealand under a free association agreement. Cook Islands nationals have the right to become citizens of New Zealand.
Agreement covers exploration but not mining
The Cook Islands said it signed a memorandum of understanding with China that covered cooperation in the field of "exploration and research of seabed minerals."
This would include technology transfer, logistics support and deep-sea ecosystems research.
However, the agreement did not include an exploration or mining license.
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said that the seabed minerals sector would continue to be subject to "strict regulatory oversight."
The Pacific nation also signed three other agreements with China during an official visit to Beijing, including an agreement for economic cooperation in maritime industries and a deal on development projects involving Chinese grant aid.
"These agreements reflect the Cook Islands' ongoing commitment to fostering international partnerships that support national development and regional resilience," the Cook Islands government said in a statement.
Source: DW
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
