The Prime Minister (PM) Jeremiah Manele, MP, has formally welcomed the non-resident Ambassador of Korea to the Solomon Islands, His Excellency (HE) Jongho Choi, on Wednesday.
The brief welcome ceremony was held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC).
Earlier in the day, HE Choi presented his credentials to the Governor General (GG) of the Solomon Islands, Father David Teva, signifying his new appointment as Korea’s Ambassador to the Solomon Islands.
Prime Minister Manele congratulated HE Choi on his new appointment and emphasized the potential for expanding the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
PM Manele acknowledged the 46 years of strong bilateral ties between the Solomon Islands and Korea and commended Korea’s continued support and assistance in various areas of mutual interest.
The Prime Minister highlighted Korea’s contributions to the 2023 Pacific Games, particularly the provision of vehicles, which greatly supported logistical operations during the event.
He noted that these contributions were instrumental in ensuring the successful hosting of the regional festivities.
PM Manele also expressed gratitude for Korea’s support in the Tina Hydro Project. He underscored the government’s prioritization of renewable energy and stressed the importance of operationalizing the Tina Hydro to achieve clean energy goals and reduce electricity costs.
The Prime Minister proposed several initiatives to further strengthen bilateral relations, including a visa waiver arrangement for ordinary and official passport holders, support for the productive sector, and logistical assistance for hosting the Special Summit on SDG 14.4.
Discussing the productive sector, PM Manele highlighted the government’s focus on harnessing its potential to drive the economy, especially given the youth-dominated population of the Solomon Islands.
On regional matters, PM Manele acknowledged Korea’s role as a dialogue partner in the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and emphasized the critical importance of addressing climate change for Pacific Island Countries. He commended Korea’s efforts in this area and called for continued collaboration.
The Prime Minister invited more Korean investors to explore opportunities in the Solomon Islands, emphasizing trade and investment as key areas of interest for the government.
PM Manele assured HE Jongho Choi of the Solomon Islands Government’s continued support for Korea, both regionally and on the global stage.
In response, HE Choi expressed gratitude for the Solomon Islands’ consistent support for Korea and reaffirmed Korea’s commitment to assisting the Solomon Islands.
HE Jongho Choi, who is based in Papua New Guinea, also serves as Korea’s Ambassador to Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.
- OPMC
