PM Sogavare speaks cherishingly of SI bilateral relations with Japan upon receipt of the US$ 28 million ‘Road of Peace’ from Ambassador Yoshiaki
SOLOMON Islands values its bilateral relations with Japan and as a family, ‘we will not always see eye-to-eye on issues,’ Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare uttered, Thursday.
Prime Minister Sogavare, who recently condemned Japan at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly for its decision to discharge ALPS-treated nuclear waste water into the Pacific Ocean, spoke cherishingly of Solomon Islands relations with Japan when he received the ‘Road of Peace’ from the Japanese Ambassador Miwa Yoshiaki. Ambassador Yoshiaki had refuted some of the references to Japan’s ALPS-treated nuclear waste water discharge at the 78th UNGA as baseless.
The ‘Road of Peace’ as described by the Prime Minister is the Second Phase of the Kukum Highway Upgrade Project worth US$28 Million.
Speaking in a ceremony near the Honiara International Airport to receive the ‘Road of Peace’ on behalf of the Government and People of Solomon Islands from Ambassador Yoshiaki on behalf of the Government and People of Japan, Prime Minister Sogavare hailed the Japan-Solomon Islands relations and assured the envoy of Honiara’s commitment to bolstering these ties.
“Solomon Islands values its bilateral relationship with Japan. However, as a family, we will not always see eye-to-eye on some issues. But as it is with families, we will continue to respect each other, work with each other, and further strengthen our relationship and partnership.
“I look forward to a long and lasting partnership and friendship with the people and government of Japan as we continue to lift our bilateral relations to another level.”
Further to acknowledging Japan’s bilateral assistance to Solomon Islands as evidenced by its infrastructure support, Prime Minister Sogavare hailed Japan’s contribution through multilateral partnerships such as Asian Development Bank and World Bank.
He said it is no secret that Solomon Islands is highly aid-dependent country, a categorisation that it is struggling to get out from.
However, the Prime Minister added that as a large ocean state, Solomon Islands has some of the best fishing grounds in the world.
“We are also conscious of our strategic geographical location and the maritime routes that passes through our waters.
“As I have always said, we are friends to all and enemies to none, and we would like to keep our corner of the world safe.”
As such, Prime Minister Sogavare said he acknowledges the five guiding principles of Japan’s cooperation with Pacific Islands countries, which are independence and self-sufficiency, regional cooperation, political stability, economic development and people-to-people exchanges.
“This is also known as the Kuranari Doctrine as was announced in a speech in Fiji in 1987 by then Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Tadashi Kuranari.
“It is my hope that we can continue to pursue this principle long into the future through a spirit of partnership.”
The Prime Minister also acknowledged Japan’s initiative in setting up the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting Summit (PALM) in 1997.
He said nine meetings have been held since the inception of PALM, with the next one being scheduled for 2024.
“This is an opportune time for us to discuss issues that concerns us all,” Prime Minister Sogavare added.
By IAN LADDS
Solomon Star, Honiara
