WELLINGTON, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand and Kiribati have strengthened their Pacific partnership with the signing of a new Statement of Partnership, according to a New Zealand government release on Monday.
The Statement of Partnership formalizes the strong and long-established cooperation New Zealand and Kiribati enjoy, including in health, labor mobility and security.
The partnership includes a further commitment by New Zealand towards the prevention of non-communicable diseases and support for maternal and child health in the atoll nation, it said.
The two sides also agreed to expand Kiribati's participation in New Zealand's Recognized Seasonal Employer scheme, and increase funding to address water security in Kiribati through the Pacific Partnership for Atoll Water Security. ■