China's Embassy in New Zealand Comments on U.S.-New Zealand Deep-Water Port Plan in the Cook Islands

According to Jin10, a spokesperson for China's embassy in New Zealand said China had noticed reports that the United States and New Zealand recently announced plans to build a deep-water port on a former military base in the Cook Islands. The spokesperson said the China-U.S.-New Zealand-Cook Islands cooperation was intended to support development in the Cook Islands, especially its northern islands, and added that China has long carried out practical cooperation with Pacific island countries, including the Cook Islands, in infrastructure, poverty reduction, and climate response. The spokesperson said such cooperation is not about geopolitical competition, but about helping island countries address real challenges and achieve sustainable development, and said cooperation between countries should not target third parties and should help maintain regional peace and stability. The spokesperson also said China hopes relevant countries will work with Pacific island countries in line with the principles of mutual respect and openness and inclusiveness, and will effectively support Pacific island countries and other developing countries and regions in achieving their development goals.