Governor General (GG) His Excellency Sir David Tiva Kapu on Wednesday morning formally received a Letter of Credence from the new Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Edgar Tomas Q. Auxilian.
The ceremony was held at the Government House.
Ambassador Auxilian, who is a non-resident envoy based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, holds concurrent accreditations to Solomon Islands and Kiribati.
In welcoming the Ambassador, Governor General Sir David Tiva Kapu highlighted the long-standing and cordial diplomatic ties between Solomon Islands and the Philippines, established in September 2004.
“Your appointment represents an opportunity to further deepen and strengthen the engagement between our two countries, building on the foundation of friendship and cooperation that we have nurtured over the past 21 years,” the Governor General stated.
He further noted that Solomon Islands hopes to formalize Memoranda of Understanding with the Philippines in key sectors such as health and air services, and welcomed increased collaboration in areas of mutual interest, including tourism, fisheries, agriculture, and health.
“Excellency, I also wish to express our gratitude to the Government of the Philippines for its continued hospitality and support to Solomon Islands students studying in your country.
“Your assistance has significantly contributed to the development of our human resources,” Sir David added.
He also acknowledged the positive contributions of the Filipino community in Solomon Islands, emphasizing their important role in the country’s economic and social development.
There are currently 500+ Filipinos residing in the Solomon Islands.
The Governor General concluded by expressing confidence that Ambassador Auxilian’s tenure would see further meaningful cooperation between the two countries in pursuit of shared progress and prosperity.
In response, Ambassador Auxilian reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to deepening bilateral ties.
“The Philippines looks forward to working with Solomon Islands to further promote economic relations, particularly by exploring new trade and investment opportunities,” he said.
“As Ambassador, I am devoted to strengthening our relationship and exploring new avenues of cooperation for the mutual benefit of our nations.”
—MFAET PRESS
