BY JOSES SAREN
The Minister of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC), Peter Kenilorea Jnr has reaffirmed Solomon Islands and Japan’s strong partnership during a high-level bilateral meeting with Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Iwao Horii, and his delegation at the Ministry’s head office in Honiara on 29 June 2026.
A statement from MPNDC on Thursday this week said the meeting reaffirmed the strong and enduring partnership between the two countries and catered to discussions on shared development priorities.
At the meeting, Kenilorea Jnr said Solomon Islands and Japan enjoy a friendship rooted in mutual respect since their diplomatic relations began back in 1978.
He said Japan is a vital development partner that is supporting Solomon Islands growth and development in areas like infrastructure, human resource development and technical cooperation.
Kenilorea Jnr also acknowledged the positive impacts of programs managed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) Programme and Japan’s assistance towards Solomon Islands National Development Strategy (NDS) 2016-2035.
He said Solomon Islands looks forward to receive Japan’s Country Development Cooperation Policy, a policy that provides a strategic framework for future bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
MPNDC mentioned that regional issues and the upcoming Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM) 11 were also discussed at the meeting.
The Minister referred to PALM as an important forum to address climate change and economic development.
In this regard, he welcomed Japan’s efforts to align PALM 11 outcomes with the regional 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
Kenilorea Jnr said Solomon Islands is keen to help shape a successful agenda for the upcoming PALM 11.
He then raised concerns about transnational crime of which included drug trafficking, which threatens the nation’s maritime security.
To top that off, the country’s vulnerability to global fuel prices was also discussed at the meeting.
The Minister further expressed Solomon Islands’ interest to join the Japan’s Indo-Pacific Energy Security initiative to strengthen economic resilience.
Photo: MNPDC
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