PM Manele and Vanuatu counterpart sign border agreement in Honiara

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele today signed the Border Agreement (Tirvau Agreement) with his Vanuatu counterpart Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas in Honiara that will to ease the movement of people and trade at the eastern border.

Manele said today’s signing marks another milestone in the two countries’ relations.

“I feel honored to be co-signing the Tirvau Agreement with you, colleague Prime Minister. This makes you a special wantok of Solomon Islands having signed two bilateral Agreements with two Solomon Islands Prime Ministers,” he states.

Tirvau is the feather money used by the people of Temotu, that signifies the diversity that exists in the two countries and the value placed on our relations, says the PM Manele.

He points out that the elements of the Tirvau Agreement are intergenerational in nature and open doors for further collaboration, integration and cooperation between our two states.

“It cements and binds our current relations with a umi tugeda spirit, two wantok countries further formalizing and recognizing the traditional and cultural connections as Melanesians,” said Manele.

  He explains that the agreement; allows for the active movement of people for tourism, trade, and personal reasons.

“We are encouraging this movement to happen with ease. The Agreement is about promoting peaceful relations, facilitating economic activities, and ensuring effective governance of our borders and cooperate on sectoral and humanitarian issues of mutual concern to the two states,” said Manele.

Like Manele, Tabimasmas welcomes the signing ceremony and expresses his happiness to be part of the ceremony.

He also expressed his government’s willingness to implementing the agreement and promises visit Temotu province in the future.

The Vanuatu PM is in the country which his Deputy Prime Minister, Matai Seremaiah Nawalu and his delegation who also visited SINU today.