On November 8, 2023, Special Envoy for Pacific Island Countries Affairs of the Chinese Government Qian Bo met with Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum Mark Stephen Brown on the sidelines of relevant events of the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum in Avarua. Qian Bo introduced fruitful outcomes reached at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, and congratulated the Cook Islands on successfully hosting the leaders' meeting of the Forum. Qian Bo said that China attaches great importance to growing China-Cook Islands relations, supports Pacific Island countries in seeking greater strength through solidarity, and stands ready to push for more outcomes of bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, so as to benefit the people of Pacific Island countries.

Mark Stephen Brown thanked China for supporting the Cook Islands in hosting the leaders' meeting of the Forum, reiterated that the government of the Cook Islands remains committed to the one-China principle, and said that the Cook Islands stands ready to work with China to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the two sides and within the framework of the Forum, so as to promote the steady and sustained development of relations between the two countries and realize the development and revitalization of Pacific Islands.

During his stay in the Cook Islands, Qian Bo also met with participating leaders of Pacific Island countries, including Kiribati, Fiji, Samoa, Niue, and Solomon Islands.