Party Secretary Li meets Solomon Islands PM

Shanghai Party Secretary Li Qiang met Solomon Islands’ Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Shanghai yesterday.

The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Solomon Islands benefits the two peoples and conforms to the trend of the times, Li told his guest. “We highly appreciate the correct decision, strategic vision and political courage of your government,” he added, noting that the prime minister’s visit to China and the successful meeting with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang will definitely open up a brighter and nicer future for the development of bilateral relations.

China is willing to push forward the friendly cooperation between the two countries, giving full play to local advantages and functions under the framework of pragmatic cooperation and exchanges in various fields, Li said. “We will make positive contributions to promoting the development of bilateral relations and enhancing the well-being of the two peoples.”

In reply, Sogavare said that China’s development achievements have attracted worldwide attention, and Shanghai is full of vigor and vitality as a modern international metropolis. “I hope that this visit and the bilateral cooperation agreement signed is an opportunity to better learn from the development experience of China and Shanghai, further expand the areas of cooperation, enhance the level of cooperation, and promote the development of bilateral ties,” the Solomon Islands leader added.

Xue Bing, Chinese ambassador to Papua New Guinea, and Shanghai leaders Zhuge Yujie and Xu Kunlin also attended the meeting.

On Wednesday, President Xi said during a meeting with Sogavare at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing that the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Solomon Islands on the basis of the one-China principle conforms to the trend of the times and benefits the two peoples.