SI welcomes second China-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Solomon Islands welcomed the Second China Pacific Islands Countries Foreign Ministerial meeting. It was an opportunity to celebrate the growing relationship between China and the Pacific Islands Countries.

The meeting covered areas of mutual concerns.  Solomon Islands acknowledge China’s initiative and the discussions that transpired in developing the Pacific Islands Countries and China on the common development vision, matched with a 5-year plan.

Solomon Islands values the proposed strategic partnership that is based on solidarity, equality, respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Solomon Islands supports the notion that security and development are two sides of the same coin. Addressing the region’s security challenges with a development lens that facilitates trade, market access, tourism, agriculture, fisheries, and enhancing people to people relations through education, visits and sharing of development experience empowers people and instil stability and progress.

China Pacific Islands Countries cooperation offer a new form of partnership between Small Islands Developing States of the Pacific and the world’s second largest growing economy. The framework offers Infrastructure development, e-commerce and integrates the region more meaningfully into the international system.

Solomon Islands has a rich and cultivated bilateral cooperation that will continue to address issues on the regional agenda using bilateral frameworks as vehicles to build a better progressive and prosperous Solomon Islands that will bring about a stable blue Pacific.

Solomon Islands remains committed in building consensus in advancing the Belt and Road Initiative and the proposed Blue Pacific 2050 Strategy connection.

ENDS///

Government Communications Unit