China and the Cook Islands signed an action plan last week for a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, China's Foreign Ministry said on Monday, giving further details about a deal expected to raise concerns in New Zealand.

China and the Cook Islands have signed an action plan establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership. This agreement, announced by a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, focuses on bilateral cooperation and explicitly excludes the influence of third parties.

China and the Cook Islands have signed an action plan for a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, among other documents, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson says.

A strategic partnership deal between China and the Cook Islands spans areas from deep-sea mining to education scholarships but excludes security ties, a document released by the Pacific island nation's government showed.