Wang Yi Holds Talks with Foreign Minister of Solomon Islands Jeremiah Manele

In the early hours of May 26, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Solomon Islands for a visit and was greeted by Foreign Minister Manele and his cabinet key members at the airport. In the morning, Wang Yi held formal talks with Foreign Minister Manele.

Wang Yi said, Solomon Islands is the first stop of this South Pacific trip. This visit aims to strengthen communication with friends in Pacific Island Countries (PICs), enhance mutual trust, build consensus, deepen friendship and expand cooperation. Over the past two years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Solomon Islands, under the leadership and care of President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Manasseh Damukana Sogavare, China-Solomon Islands relations have showcased strong resilience and vitality, standing at the forefront of China's relations with the PICs.

Wang Yi said that China will, as always, firmly support Solomon Islands in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, maintaining domestic solidarity and unity, and accelerating the development and revitalization of the country. China will continue to provide assistance within its capacity to Solomon Islands. China is willing to work with Solomon Islands to implement the important consensus reached by the two countries' leaders so as to elevate China-Solomon Islands relations to a higher level, setting an example of political mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and PICs.

Manele welcomed the first high-level Chinese delegation to Solomon Islands since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, expressing that this historic visit is a milestone in the relationship between the two countries. Manele said that equal treatment and mutual respect serve as the cornerstones of Solomon Islands-China relations. Solomon Islands will always firmly adhere to the one-China principle and firmly support China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. China has become a close friend and an important development partner of Solomon Islands, and all agreements signed between the two countries have been effectively implemented. China practices the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind with concrete actions, and the Chinese side's support has played an important role in developing Solomon Islands' economy, improving people's livelihood and fighting against the pandemic, bringing a large number of jobs to Solomon Islands. Solomon Islands is full of expectations for the prospect of Solomon Islands-China cooperation.

Manele said, Solomon Islands admires China's development achievements, wishes the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) a full success and looks forward to learning from China's experience in governance. Wang Yi said that the CPC has led 1.4 billion Chinese people to achieve the first centenary goal and has started a new journey towards the second centenary goal. China's development has always been the growth of the force for peace and the strengthening of the force of developing countries, which will make the world more peaceful and international relations more equitable, and is fully in line with the common interests of developing countries.

The two sides agreed to build flagship projects of the Belt and Road cooperation, make good use of the preferential policy of zero-tariff on products exported to China, and help Solomon Islands fully tap its resource advantages and development potential. The two sides also agreed to expand practical cooperation in a wide range of fields such as agriculture and fishery, timber, minerals, health and pandemic response, disaster mitigation and relief, and deepen exchanges of experience in product processing, industrial incubation and special zone construction, so as to help Solomon Islands improve its capacity for self-generated development and accelerate its industrialization and modernization.

The two sides expressed the willingness to work together to ensure that the 2023 Pacific Games stadium and its ancillary facilities will be completed with high quality in the near future to help Solomon Islands host a high-level Games.

The two sides agreed to strengthen coordination and cooperation on development issues, response to climate change, multilateral affairs and others. Manele said that Solomon Islands supports the Global Development Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping and is willing to seek greater synergy with China to pool efforts.

The two sides expressed positive evaluation of the fruitful results of cooperation between China and PICs, and agreed to jointly promote the success of the upcoming second China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

After the talks, the two sides jointly met the press.