Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown will visit China from February 10 to 14, marking the first visit by a leader of the island nation in a decade. Brown aims to expand economic opportunities, discussing trade, climate, investment, and infrastructure while maintaining national sovereignty.
The visit comes as China increases its influence in the Pacific, following concerns from some island nations over U.S. President Donald Trump’s foreign aid freeze, migration policies, and withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.
Brown described the trip as part of a broader strategy to strengthen relations with New Zealand, Australia, and China, ensuring Cook Islands’ economic and strategic interests remain a priority.
The Cook Islands, an independent nation in free association with New Zealand, controls its domestic and foreign affairs but relies on New Zealand for defense and emergency assistance. The nation has 15,000 residents, with nearly 100,000 Cook Island Maori living in New Zealand.
During the visit, Brown said a joint action plan for comprehensive strategic partnership with China will be finalized, though details remain unclear. New Zealand has urged consultation on agreements that may have strategic or security implications.
In December, the Cook Islands’ proposal to introduce its own passports was rejected by New Zealand, though discussions on full independence remain open.
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including prominent Republican China hawk Tom Cotton, introduced the SAFE CHIPS Act on Thursday, aiming to preven...
Czech President Petr Pavel has announced that he will appoint billionaire Andrej Babis, the winner of the recent elections, as the country’s new pri...
Nestled in the Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo is racing toward the finish line ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Officials said on Thursday that...
Ukraine has urged for genuine peace with Russia rather than concessions, warning that poorly negotiated settlements in the past have led to disaster....
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday (December 4) firmly rejected U.S. proposals to use Russian assets frozen in the European Union for the be...
Nestled in the Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo is racing toward the finish line ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Officials said on Thursday that the Olympic Village is almost ready to receive athletes competing from February 6th to the 22nd.
Ukraine has urged for genuine peace with Russia rather than concessions, warning that poorly negotiated settlements in the past have led to disaster.
The United Kingdom and Norway have unveiled a new joint naval initiative designed to protect undersea infrastructure and counter increased Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic.
Slovenia has become the latest country to pull out of next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, joining Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands in a widening boycott triggered by the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) decision to allow Israel to participate.
For nearly three decades following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the international system was defined by a singular, overwhelming reality: American unipolarity.
Chinese scientists have unveiled a new gene-editing therapy that they say could lead to a functional cure for HIV, making it one of the most promising developments in decades of global research.
Faced with mounting public outrage following one of the deadliest environmental disasters in the nation’s recent history, the Indonesian government has pledged to investigate and potentially shut down mining operations found to have contributed to the catastrophic flooding on Sumatra.
Britain’s King Charles III welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday, marking the beginning of his three-day state visit to the United Kingdom. The visit, the first by a German President to the UK in 27 years, comes as the two countries continue to strengthen ties post-Brexit.
U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a blistering verbal attack on the Somali community, characterising migrants as "garbage" just as federal authorities prepare a contentious enforcement operation in the Midwestern state of Minnesota.
While political leaders hail a historic agreement, residents of Goma remain skeptical as clashes continue on the ground.
President Donald Trump has appointed a new architect to oversee the highly anticipated White House ballroom project, a White House spokesman confirmed on Thursday.
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including prominent Republican China hawk Tom Cotton, introduced the SAFE CHIPS Act on Thursday, aiming to prevent the Trump administration from easing restrictions on China’s access to advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips for a period of 2.5 years.
Czech President Petr Pavel has announced that he will appoint billionaire Andrej Babis, the winner of the recent elections, as the country’s new prime minister on December 9.
Nestled in the Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo is racing toward the finish line ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Officials said on Thursday that the Olympic Village is almost ready to receive athletes competing from February 6th to the 22nd.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment