THIS INTERVIEW IS BASED ON A RECENT VISIT BY SINU VICE CHANCELLOR TO CHINA
Our interview takes the Question & Answer format.
Solomon Star: Were you surprised at (a) what you saw; (b) has it changed any pre-conceived idea(s) you might have held of China? and (c) what impresses you the most?
VC Response:
Thank you, Aldred, for the question. To begin with, the official visit to the People’s Republic of China took place between 25 April and 5 May 2025. We departed from Honiara on the 25th of April and returned on the 5th of May. It was a tightly scheduled and high-level visit, spanning engagements with universities, research institutions, government officials, and private sector partners across five major cities in three Chinese provinces.
As for myself, this was not my first visit to China. I had the opportunity to travel to China once before, in 2012, just before the formal diplomatic switch from Taiwan to China. On that earlier occasion, I visited Shanghai and Dalian—two remarkable cities that left a lasting impression on me.
Even then, the scale of infrastructure development, the pace of urbanisation, and the sheer vibrancy of economic activity were mind-boggling. Dalian, located in China’s northeast and facing North Korea across the Yellow Sea, was particularly striking. It was evident to me even at that time that China’s insatiable demand for raw materials to drive its infrastructure and industrial ambitions was reshaping global markets, particularly in Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific. It was also clear that China had become a pivotal player not only in global trade and investment, but also in geopolitics and global development diplomacy.
This second visit, however, was especially significant because it allowed me to see China not just through the lens of infrastructure or economics, but through the prism of higher education, scientific collaboration, and institutional partnership. The scope and scale of our discussions with Chinese universities—particularly in areas such as marine science, agriculture, climate change, disaster resilience, and vocational education—offered us an exciting glimpse into how academic diplomacy can serve as a vehicle for national transformation.
For Solomon Islands National University (SINU), this was a landmark mission. It marked our first multi-institutional strategic engagement with Chinese universities and laid the foundation for an ambitious internationalisation agenda—one that aims to lift the quality and scope of our research, enrich the experience of our students and staff, and build a globally connected Pacific academic institution.
I sincerely hope that through the partnerships we are forging, we will not only deepen knowledge exchange and technology transfer but also contribute meaningfully to sustainable development in Solomon Islands and across the region.
VC Response:
While I was not surprised in the general sense—having visited China previously in 2012—what did strike me was the depth of institutional innovation and the speed at which development has continued. What impressed me most was not only the physical infrastructure, but the intellectual infrastructure: world-class laboratories, centres of excellence, and the integration of science and policy to address national challenges.
For example, institutions such as the Oceans University of China and the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS) demonstrated not just technical prowess, but a genuine willingness to engage with us on equal terms. They recognised the unique developmental needs of the Pacific and expressed strong support for co-created solutions that honour local context while drawing on global best practice.
This visit reaffirmed my conviction that strategic partnerships in higher education are crucial to our national development and that China’s offer of collaboration is based on long-term, mutually beneficial engagement—not conditionality or imposition. What I saw confirmed that China is an engine of innovation, deeply invested in building global partnerships across the developing world.
Solomon Star: You described your visit as “significant and fruitful trip”. Perhaps the icing on the cake so to speak, is the partnership SINU is forging with Chinese universities. Can you elaborate?
VC Response:
Indeed, I did describe it as a “significant and fruitful” mission, and that is because it has set in motion what I would describe as the most expansive academic diplomacy initiative in SINU’s history.
Our engagements culminated in four major institutional agreements with leading Chinese universities and research institutions:
- Oceans University of China (OUC) – focused on mariculture, fisheries science, and marine research;
- Liaocheng University – on climate change research, Mandarin language instruction, and cultural exchange;
- Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS) – targeting agricultural transformation through science and innovation; and
- Wuyi University – specialising in disaster risk reduction, smart infrastructure, and engineering innovation.
Each of these institutions has committed to specific, actionable initiatives—ranging from postgraduate scholarships and student exchange to joint research centres and staff mobility programmes. The Oceans University, for instance, is co-establishing a Mariculture and Aquaculture Research Centre in Isabel Province, while Wuyi University will work with us to build a China–Pacific Research Centre at Kukum Campus, dedicated to resilience research and engineering solutions.
We are also in preliminary discussions with the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences to explore its potential involvement in the development of SINU’s fourth campus in Malaita Province. Given Jiangsu’s strong agricultural innovation systems, we see the potential to collaborate in establishing a Centre for Climate-Smart Agriculture and Rural Development that could serve not only the province, but the wider Pacific.
These partnerships are not just about bilateral cooperation—they are platforms for building a stronger, more resilient, and internationally relevant Solomon Islands National University.
Solomon Star: Your delegation held talks with four academic institutions. Can you briefly tell us what you discussed and the outcome of those discussions? What opportunities are there for Solomon Islands students pursuing academic excellence in the sciences?
VC Response:
Our discussions were focused and strategic. At each institution, we explored areas where their global expertise could complement our national priorities.
- With Oceans University of China, we signed a Public-Private Partnership Agreement to establish a joint research facility in Isabel. They committed to funding graduate scholarships in oceanography, climate science, and fisheries, and to sending a technical team to Solomon Islands for site identification and joint planning.
- At Liaocheng University, we signed an MoU to collaborate on climate change adaptation, Chinese language instruction, and cultural programming. Dr. Mary Paia will lead our coordination with their Pacific Islands Climate Centre, while Ms. Lenora Houma and Ms. Georgina Pitaqae will lead the development of a Confucius Classroom at SINU.
- CATAS, a globally recognised agricultural science body, offered technical support for coconut and cocoa varietal improvement. I have designated Dr. John Bosco as our liaison for a national agriculture revitalisation programme. Pilot farms are expected to be launched in 2026 across Guadalcanal, Isabel, and Western Provinces.
- At Wuyi University, we agreed to co-develop a regional research centre for disaster resilience. Eight Solomon Islanders are already studying there, and we will soon launch joint Master’s programmes in climate engineering and infrastructure design.
These partnerships will translate into hundreds of opportunities for our students and staff over the next five years—scholarships, exchanges, joint research, and new curricula. We are not simply sending students abroad—we are creating a two-way academic corridor where knowledge and innovation flow both ways.
Solomon Star: When can we begin to witness tangible evidence of SINU’s new-found partnership with the Chinese universities?
VC Response:
The implementation timeline has already commenced. Here are the immediate next steps which have been planned:
- May 2025: Site visits, designation of SINU focal points, and formation of Joint Steering Committees with our partners.
- Q3 2025: Launch of a joint research seminar on climate resilience; establishment of coordination offices for new partnerships.
- Q4 2025: Deployment of technical missions to Solomon Islands by CATAS and OUC; minor campus refurbishments to host the Confucius Classroom and China–Pacific Research Centre.
- 2026 Academic Year: First batch of postgraduate scholars to begin studies in China under these new agreements.
- 2026–2027: Rollout of joint research projects, pilot agricultural demonstration farms, and cultural exchanges.
By early 2026, we will begin to see staff and hopefully students travelling, demonstration sites being built, and Chinese scholars visiting our campuses. These are not abstract plans—they are concrete, budgeted, and timed deliverables.
That said, as with all relationships, the success of these initiatives will depend not only on formal agreements and timelines, but also on the quality of our coordination, the frequency of our engagement, and the strength of our personal and institutional relationships. Partnerships thrive on trust, responsiveness, and mutual understanding.
To this end, we have taken deliberate steps to designate specific staff within SINU to serve as institutional focal points. These colleagues have been entrusted with the responsibility of nurturing these partnerships, ensuring follow-through on our commitments, and serving as the bridge between SINU and our Chinese counterparts. Their work will be pivotal in translating memoranda of understanding into living, breathing collaborations that serve our students, our staff, and our broader national development goals.
Our approach is holistic: not just to sign agreements, but to invest in the human and institutional capabilities that will sustain them for the long term.
Solomon Star: Despite China’s impressive investment record in infrastructure and economic activities, there are pockets of resistance in Solomon Islands due to misinformation. Do you have any suggestions for overcoming this?
VC Response:
This is a very important and sensitive question. Public perception is shaped not only by facts, but also by narratives—and sometimes by external geopolitical agendas.
My suggestion is that we respond not with confrontation, but with transparency, dialogue, and evidence. One way forward would be for us, at SINU, to host a National Public Forum Series—where policymakers, academics, faith leaders, youth groups, and even diplomatic missions could present their perspectives.
We should draw inspiration from institutions such as the University of Papua New Guinea’s Waigani Seminar, which provides a platform for debate on national and regional issues. Such a forum would not only clarify misconceptions about China, but also foster national unity through informed dialogue.
Furthermore, through our Confucius Classroom, we intend to promote not just Mandarin instruction but also cross-cultural understanding. Let us not fear what we do not understand—let us study it, engage with it, and forge our own uniquely Pacific relationships with the rest of the world.
Solomon Star: Have you and the Chairman of the SINU Council reported the outcome of your visit to the Council yet? (If so), what was the Council’s response?
VC Response:
While I have not yet formally presented the trip report to the SINU Council, I can confirm that Council members, including the Pro Chancellor Dr Morgan Wairui, are aware of the visit and the significant outcomes of our engagements in China. Elements of the visit and the emerging partnerships have also been shared informally with staff and stakeholders through my comprehensive trip report and ongoing institutional briefings.
Without pre-empting the formal deliberations of the Council, I believe it is fair to say that Council members would welcome these partnerships as they align closely with SINU’s strategic vision for academic excellence, internationalisation, and national development. These collaborations are not only opportunities for SINU to strengthen its research and teaching capabilities, but they represent a wider contribution to the educational and economic advancement of the Solomon Islands.
It is expected that the Council will be fully briefed at its next sitting, and I am confident that these developments will be viewed as constructive and forward-looking steps in the growth of SINU as a national institution of higher learning.
Solomon Star: Do you think there is a need to establish a regular Forum to discuss national issues and (to) counter misinformation?
VC Response:
Absolutely. As a national university, it is our duty not just to educate, but to elevate public discourse. A regular national forum—perhaps convened monthly or quarterly—would allow for the democratisation of knowledge, a space where facts, evidence, and differing viewpoints can be aired with respect and rigour.
As I mentioned, this could be modelled on the Waigani Seminar or Oxford-style public lectures, and hosted alternately in Honiara and the provinces. The University is willing to take the lead in this effort, working with partners such as the National Parliament, the Churches, the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI), and regional institutions.
We must always remember the words of John Stuart Mill: “The worth of a state in the long run is the worth of the individuals composing it.” If we want an informed, cohesive, and forward-looking Solomon Islands, we must invest in open dialogue and critical thinking.
By Alfred Sasako
