China committed to more exchanges of governance experience to bolster Solomons’ confidence and capability to realise independence
BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
China aspires to strengthen the exchange of governance experience to help Solomon Islands elevate confidence and capability for independent development.
Through these exchanges, China believes Solomon Island will chart a modernisation path that suits its conditions and achieves its economic transformation.
Chinese Ambassador to the Solomon Islands His Excellency Cai Weiming said this when speaking at the event to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the 5th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries, at the Pacific Crown hotel on Friday.
One of the core agendas highlighted by Weiming going forward between the two countries is promoting people-to-people exchanges to consolidate the popular basis for both countries’ cooperation.
“We will depend on bilateral cooperation in education, culture, arts, tourism sports and other areas to forge a closer bond of friendship between our two people,” said Cai.
He said that China will continue to facilitate provincial and municipal cooperation with Solomon Island to support more Solomon Island students and professionals to study in China.
“We should strengthen practical cooperation, to cement an economic foundation for each other’s modernization.
“We will enhance the interaction of Belt and Road Initiative and GNUT’s policy statements, and speed up the construction of National Referral Hospital (NRH) comprehensive medical Centre and Auki Road tar sealing projects,” he said.
Cai stressed that China will take the opportunity of the zero-tariff recently offered for the Solomon Islands to absorb more of Solomon Islands agricultural and fisheries products into China’s market.
“All these measures will deepen our cooperation, boost our development and inject strong momentum for our modernisation,” he said.
“Chinese President Xi Jinping said on multiple occasions that modernisation is an inalienable right of all countries.
“No country should be left behind on their path to modernisation,” he said.
Ambassador Weiming said that China is ready to work with the Solomon Islands to deepen friendship and cooperation motivated by both countries’ pursuit of modernisation.
“It is also to lead China relations with Pacific countries, and countries to the modernisation of developing countries and the Global South,’’ said Cai.
