BY SAMIE WAIKORI
Premier of Makira Ulawa Province (MUP), Stanley Siapu, has confirmed plans to establish a sister-city relationship with China’s Guizhou province, referring to it as a key priority for his government this year.
Speaking with Island Sun on Saturday, January 10, 2026, Premier Siapu shared that his government, in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Honiara, has been working on formalizing the proposal and will continue to push forward with the partnership.
In addition to the Guizhou proposal, Premier Siapu highlighted that his government is also pursuing a similar arrangement between Ulawa Island and Arawa City in Japan.
He said the initiative was brought to his attention by a committee overseeing the partnership and was welcomed by his government.
Siapu emphasized that both proposals aim to foster greater cooperation between MUP and the respective regions of Guizhou and Arawa.
He reaffirms his commitment to ensure that both arrangements are successfully realized, which he believes will lay a strong foundation for future cooperation and development opportunities for MUP.
The Premier also noted that the recent appointment of a new Provincial Secretary (PS) for the province will be instrumental in advancing these efforts, citing the PS’s experience in diplomacy.
He said the PS, who has previous engagement with the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), is expected to bring valuable expertise to the table, particularly in formalizing these international agreements.
Siapu expressed confidence that through close collaboration with the new PS, both the administrative and political arms of MUP will work together to finalize the arrangements.
The Premier also assures the people of MUP that his government is fully committed to these milestone initiatives and will ensure their successful implementation.
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