Solomon Islands hailed as 'good brother'

President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele in Beijing on Friday. (FENG YONGBIN/CHINA DAILY)

President Xi Jinping said on Friday that China's friendly cooperation with the Solomon Islands and other Pacific island countries never targets any third party or seeks political gain, as he met in Beijing with visiting Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele.

"China regards the Solomon Islands as a good friend, good partner and good brother," Xi said, noting that the country is sincere in helping Pacific island countries to achieve development.

Xi said China is willing to strengthen strategic communication with the Solomon Islands, firmly support each other in safeguarding core interests and major concerns, and promote the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with the Solomon Islands' development strategy.

Additionally, China aims to deepen cooperation with the Solomon Islands in fields such as rural development, healthcare services, infrastructure, sustainable development and climate change response, he said.

Since the Solomon Islands severed "diplomatic ties" with the Taiwan region and established diplomatic relations with China five years ago, bilateral relations have seen tremendous progress with two-way trade reaching $540 million last year, reflecting a 9.6 percent year-on-year increase.

Manele, who signed the joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2019 as the Solomon Islands' minister of foreign affairs and external trade, is paying his first visit to China since he took office as prime minister in May.

Manele said that his weeklong trip began in Fujian province, where he deeply appreciated the tremendous achievements China has made in its development and he sensed the vast potential and broad prospects for cooperation between the two countries.

Thanks to participation in the BRI, the Solomon Islands has made significant progress in infrastructure construction and other areas, he said.

China has set a good example for developing countries, Manele said, noting that the Global Development Initiative and other initiatives proposed by Xi are particularly significant for small countries like the Solomon Islands.

In a joint statement released after the meeting, the two nations agreed to have closer interactions at all levels and in various areas, continue to work together in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and expand exchanges and cooperation in such areas as culture, health, including malaria eradication, youth and media.

The Solomon Islands said in the statement that it firmly opposes "Taiwan independence" in any form and fully understands and supports China's position on the South China Sea issue, and calls for peaceful negotiations and dialogue by the parties involved.