China, Solomon Islands upgrade bilateral ties

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - China and Solomon Islands on Monday upgraded bilateral ties during Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s official trip to Beijing.

China’s President Xi Jinping hosted Sogavare for official talks at Great Hall of the People where the two sides announced upgrading the bilateral relations.

“The two sides jointly announced the official establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development for a new era,” Beijing-based Xinhua News reported.

Sogavare is on a week-long official trip to China.

He also met his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang and the two sides signed several documents. The bilateral trade between the nations is just over $500 million.

According to Beijing-based Global Times, China and the Solomon Islands signed a civil aviation transport agreement.

"The agreement will establish a legal foundation for developing a bilateral civil aviation relationship, facilitating the establishment of new airlines and promoting business cooperation," it added.

Under the agreement, the two sides can "enhance economic communication and personnel."

Xi said China and the Pacific Island countries “are developing countries and should strengthen mutual assistance within the framework of South-South cooperation.”

He said China's policy on Pacific Island countries is based on four points: “Fully respect sovereignty and independence of island countries, and insist that all countries, big or small, are equal; respect the national cultural traditions of the island countries, adhere to harmony without difference; fully respect unity and self-improvement of the island countries.”

China supports the island countries in implementing the "Blue Pacific 2050 Strategy” in building a peaceful, harmonious, safe, inclusive and prosperous Blue Pacific, he added.

Besides inaugurating the Solomon Islands Embassy in Beijing, Sogavare will visit the provinces of Jiangsu and Guangdong as well.

Sogavare’s visit to China assumes significance as the Solomon Islands signed a security deal with China in April last year, sparking criticism from Washington and its allies Australia, Japan and New Zealand.

Washington claimed that China is aiming to set up a military base there.

Beijing and Solomon Islands have dismissed claims by the US and its allies.

The Solomon Islands, however, has assured neighbors that it will not allow any foreign military installation.

China insists that the deal “does not target any third country,” asserting that the Pacific Island nations are sovereign states that “are not anyone’s backyard.”

Sogavare said the objections raised by the US and its allies were “insulting,” stressing that his government plans to honor existing security arrangements with Australia and other regional partners.

“Solomon Islands will not do anything that will undermine our national security, and jeopardize the security of any or all (Pacific Island) forum countries,” Sogavare said last year during a trip to Australia.