SIG SIGNS MOUs WITH PRC

The arrival of State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of People’s Republic of China (PRC) Wang Yi was deemed as most important after Solomon Islands Government entered into a bilateral relationship with PRC only two years ago.

Councilor and Foreign Affairs Minister Yi and his entourage arrived in the country on Wednesday night and on Thursday this week as well the delegation got down to business with the government.

The Yi- led delegation together with the government have signed a total of five Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs), a signed handover certificate, a signed exchange of letters and a signed agreement.

The first MOU was on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, officials/ service and public affairs passport. The vice minister for Foreign Affairs of PRC Xie Feng and Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Honorable Jeremiah Manele have signed the MOU.

The second MOU where minister Manele and PRC’s ambassador to Solomon Islands His Excellency Li Ming have signed was on duty- free treatment for products originating from Solomon Islands that cover 98% of the tariff line.

The third MOU was on the Blue economy cooperation and it was jointly signed by Assistant minister of commerce of PRC Ms Guo Tingting and the minister of commerce, industry, labor and immigration honorable Fredrick Kologeto.

A handover certificate was signed as well between the government of PRC and Solomon Islands Government on Anti- COVID Material Donation. Ms Guo Tingting and Minister of Health and Medical Services, Culwick Togamana have signed the handover certificate.

Vice chairman of China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) Zhao Fengtao and Minister of Finance and Treasury Honorable Harry Kuma further signed an agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between PRC and the Solomon Islands Government.

Fengtao of CIDCA also signed exchange of letters with minister of Health and Medical Services, Togamana, between the PRC and government of Solomon Islands on China- aid National Referral Hospital Comprehensive Medical center project.

Minister Togamana then signed an MOU with His Excellency Li Ming on Health cooperation between National Health Commission of PRC and ministry of Health and Medical Services of Solomon Islands.

His Excellency Ling Ming also signed an MOU with the Minister of environment, climate change, disaster management and meteorology Honorable Stanley Festus Sofu on cooperation in areas of disaster risk reduction and emergency response.

After the signing ceremony of MOUs, an agreement, an exchange of letters and a handover certificate, an announcement was made to recognize the establishment of sister city relationships between Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province the People’s Republic of China and Honiara City Council, Solomon Islands.

The signings were done in the presence of and witnessed by the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and the State Councilor and Foreign Affairs minister, Wang Yi.

Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his entourage have left the country today to continue their seven nations’ visit.