Deal for Belt, Road Initiative 

The Solomon Islands Government (SIG) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of the People’s Republic of China based on the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative framework. The main areas of cooperation under this agreement include policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and…

New air service agreements with Turkey, UAE 

THE Solomon Islands Government has signed historical air service agreements with the governments of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Turkey, the Prime Minister’s Office said. Minister of Communication & Aviation Peter Shanel Agovaka signed the agreements recently which now open up the opportunity for both countries and their designated carriers to formalise services between…

PM meets Xi

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has formally met the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping at the State Guest House Villa 18 on Thursday in Beijing, China. A statement from the Government Communication Unit reported in front of waiting camera crews, the two leaders shook hands, greeted each other before the President invited Mr…

Suidani on diplomatic switch  

The Malaita Provincial Premier Daniel Suidani says the switch to China is not in the best interest of the country. Premier Suidani said just by looking at the list of business people traveling with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare one can clearly see Chinese businesses that are behind the switch to China. “If the switch is…

Wale accused of ‘racial disunity’

OPPOSITION leader Mathew Wale has been accused of seeking to divide the country by provoking racial disunity. Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet stated this in a statement in response to earlier comments Wale made about the 32-member delegation currently in China. “The comments by Wale is belittling, discriminatory and contravenes the recognition of…

Wale questions PM’s statement

OPPOSITION leader Matthew Wale questions the Prime Minister on his pre-departure statement that Solomon Islands will realign its national strategy in line with China’s development assistance.  “Such statements are worrying as it can mean, subjecting matters of strategic importance to our country to China,” Wale said. “Our national strategy means policies and plans that we…

China, SI sign deal under new ties

(Reuters) – Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing yesterday and signed several agreements in the first official visit since the two countries established diplomatic relations last month.  The new diplomatic relationship is a sign of China’s growing influence in the Pacific and a setback for self-ruled, democratic Taiwan.…

Lunga school unveils new ablution block 

Lunga community high school (CHS) in East Honiara yesterday unveiled its newly completed ablution block. The project commenced last year after the old ablution block was removed. According to the school principal Joy Cornelius, the need to upgrade the facility is due to the increasing enrollment of students at the school. The new block provides…