Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Jim Marurai on Tuesday met with visiting Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on ways of further strengthening bilateral cooperation, said reports reaching Wellington from Avarua, the capital of the Cook Islands.

 

At the meeting, Li said the friendly cooperative relations had developed continuously between China and the Cook Islands in the fields of politics, trade and economy, and culture, along with ever-deepening of mutual understanding and friendship.

 

China attaches great importance to the development of friendly relations with the Cook Islands and is willing to work together with the Cook Islands to further promote the ties, Li said.

 

Marurai said exchanges at all levels between his country and China had been continuously strengthened and the bilateral relations based on mutual benefit and cooperation had progressed steadily.

 

He pointed out that China's support and aid had played a positive role in his country's socio-economic development.

 

The Cook Islands is willing to increase exchanges and reinforce cooperation with China in such fields as trade and economy, tourism, and personnel training, he added.

 

Marurai reiterated that the government of the Cook Islands stuck to the one-China policy.

 

During his stay on the Cook Islands, Li also held talks with Foreign Minister of the Cook Islands Wilkie Rasmussen on the development of bilateral relations, as well as regional and international issues of common concern.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 2, 2006)