China and the Solomon Islands have pledged to advance their comprehensive strategic partnership, following talks between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele in Beijing on Thursday.
During the meeting, Premier Li emphasized China\u2019s commitment to promoting sustainable development with Pacific island countries, including the Solomon Islands. He highlighted the strong development of bilateral relations over the past five years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, noting deepening political mutual trust and fruitful exchanges in various fields.
“China supports the people of the Solomon Islands in independently choosing a path of development in line with their own national conditions,” Li stated. He expressed China\u2019s willingness to continue to support each other\u2019s core interests and to share development experiences.
Premier Li underscored the potential for cooperation in infrastructure, rural development, information and communications, and low-carbon transformation. He affirmed China\u2019s readiness to help the Solomon Islands enhance its internal drivers of development and to import more high-quality agricultural and food products from the country. Li also encouraged competent Chinese enterprises to invest in the Solomon Islands and called for strengthened exchanges in education, health, culture, sports, youth, and local communities to further facilitate people-to-people interactions.
Prime Minister Manele expressed the Solomon Islands\u2019 readiness to work closely with China to deepen cooperation in economy and trade, infrastructure development, medical and health care, and poverty alleviation. He emphasized the importance of addressing global challenges such as climate change and promoting the continued development of their comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era.
Following the talks, both sides witnessed the signing of several cooperative documents, including agreements on Belt and Road cooperation, signaling a new chapter in their bilateral relations.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
