Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and Chinese Premier Li Qiang have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in a number of fields.

But the deal sparked a diplomatic row between the Cook Islands and New Zealand, with which it has a special political relationship.

Brown made a state visit to China last week. The trip was the first by a Cook Islands leader in a decade.

The agreement signed on Friday includes cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, infrastructure and climate change.

The Cook Islands consists of 15 tiny islands in the South Pacific, with about 17,000 residents.

The country has been self-governing in free association with New Zealand, which is committed to defend it.
The two nations are also obliged to consult on defense and security.

But New Zealand says it was not consulted about the deal between the Cook Islands and Beijing.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement, "This lack of consultation is a matter of significant concern to the New Zealand Government."

The Cook Islands prime minister says the deal with China "complements, not replaces" its long-standing relationship with New Zealand.

New Zealand is wary of Beijing's growing influence over Pacific island nations through development support.
In 2019, the Solomon Islands and Kiribati switched diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China. Nauru followed earlier last year.