Cook Islands PM defends signing of wide-ranging deal with China

The Cook Islands says it has signed a deal to expand relations with China, stressing that the accord does not impinge on ties with former colonial power New Zealand. Prime minister Mark Brown said he signed an "action plan for the comprehensive strategic partnership" with Chinese premier Li Qiang in the northern city of Harbin during a five-day state visit to China last week. He promised to publish the accord, after New Zealand expressed concern about a lack of transparency over the trip and complained it had not been properly consulted. The self-governing Cook Islands, a country of 17,000 people,…