A copy of the deal -- which is likely to irk close partner and former colonial ruler New Zealand -- showed it covers working together in the “exploration and research of seabed mineral resources”.
The Cook Islands government said the memorandum of understanding, signed with China on February 14, did not involve any agreement to give an exploration or mining licence.
Cook Islanders hold New Zealand citizenship.
“Our seabed minerals section remains under strict regulatory oversight, ensuring that all decisions are made transparently and in the best interest of the Cook Islands and its people,“ he said in a statement.
New Zealand has already accused the Cook Islands government of a lack of consultation and transparency over the wider partnership agreement with China.
New Zealand and its allies including Australia and the United States have been unnerved by China's growing diplomatic, economic and military influence in the strategically important Pacific.
The Cook Islands has licensed three companies to explore the seabed for nodules rich in metals such as nickel and cobalt, which are used in electric car batteries.
The Pacific country's prime minister has nevertheless touted the benefits of the potentially multi-billion-dollar industry, saying previously that the Cook Islands needs to protect itself against climate change “through whatever revenues that we can get”.
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