WELLINGTON, April 2 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand and the Cook Islands have signed a new defense and security declaration in the Cook Islands' Rarotonga, a New Zealand government statement said Thursday.
"This declaration outlines a set of important political commitments that the Cook Islands and New Zealand have made to one another which provide clarity on key aspects of our special constitutional relationship," New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters was quoted as saying.
"We look forward now to further enhancing the broad range of cooperation between New Zealand and the Cook Islands, as well as navigating together the complex strategic environment and the many shared challenges we face," Peters said.
Following the signing of the declaration, New Zealand will also restore financial support to the Cook Islands that has been paused over the past two years, said the minister, who started his one-day visit to Rarotonga on Wednesday. ■