THE Malaita New Government for Fundamental Redirection (MNGFR) is looking to China to help implement its 11th hour policy intervention strategy.
Speaking in Auki last week, the Malaita Deputy Premier, Joe Heroau, shed light on the trip that he and Premier Martin Fini made to China last month.
Mr Heroau said the trip was an invitational one and was mainly to attend a forum convened under the theme, “building bridges of friendship and finding pathways for win-win cooperation.”
The Malaita Deputy Premier said during the trip, they looked at ways to strengthen the diplomatic friendship between Solomon Islands and China, expand economic opportunities and pave the way forward for sustainable development and progress in Malaita Province.
He said Malaita is looking to explore more development opportunities with China under the bilateral agreement that Solomon Islands entered with China in 2019.
The Deputy Premier said the objective of the trip he and Premier Fini made to China was to actively participate in the forum, showcase the commitment of Malaita Province and seek cooperation and partnership with China.
In a way, he said, the trip was to source economic growth and advancement with China and other Pacific partners to satisfy the fundamental redirection and objectives of the MNGFR.
With that, he said during the trip, the MPG delegation held several meetings with China to develop cooperation to satisfy the MNGFR policy intervention strategy.
It is not clear if Premier Fini and his Deputy signed any MOUs during the trip.
However, the Deputy Premier said MNGFR is looking at creating a long-term development strategy to see how China can help Malaita in the next 10-20 years with its development aspirations.
When MNGFR came into power in February this year after ousting the former MARA government, it did away with the Auki Communique introduced by the former MARA Government which forbade China from investing in Malaita.
Premier Fini, shortly after being elected as the Premier of Malaita, led a delegation to Honiara to visit the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.
In May, Premier Fini was invited along with the Premier of Guadalcanal to visit China.
As announced during the MNGFR policy launching in April this year, the Fini-led MNGFR is working to deliver 12 doable projects within its 11th hour in office.
The 12 projects are as follows:
- FOTANA Deposit Project;
- 28 Towers for Malaita Province;
- Kilu’ufi Intervention Hospital;
- Fiu Bridge;
- Ward Development Projects;
- Auki Region Tarsealing Road (including existing North, South, and East roads);
- West Kwaio Bonale Pineapple product;
- Honoa Economic Growth centre;
- Atoifi Airfield, Wharf, Road Tar sealing project;
- Afio Wharf and Road Tar sealing;
- Manawai Harbour Wharf; and
- Auki Sea Port Terminal.
By WILSON SAENI in Auki
