China and the Cook Islands have wrapped up their first joint scientific expedition in the South Pacific, a region emerging as a focal point in the geopolitical race for rare earths.
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The 4,000-tonne Chinese marine research vessel Da Yang Hao, one of the most advanced in China, docked at the Avatiu port near the capital Avarua on Saturday, about one month after a US research ship conducted a three-week survey in the region.
Welcoming the Da Yang Hao to port, Sun Shuxian, the Chinese vice-minister of natural resources, said the voyage followed the signing of a number of cooperation agreements between the two countries this year.
This included a five-year action plan for a comprehensive strategic partnership that was signed during Prime Minister Mark Brown’s state visit to China in February.
Sun, who is also the director of China’s State Oceanic Administration, added that China would continue to support marine research and training in the Cook Islands.
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“China will continue to offer the Chinese government marine scholarship and warmly welcome outstanding young students and scientists from the Cook Islands to pursue master’s or doctoral degrees in marine-related majors in China,” Sun said, according to Cook Islands News.