THE villages of Pokilo and Hae in the Savo-Russell Islands Constituency have received a generous donation of livelihood items from the Chinese Embassy on Tuesday.
The livelihood items included one generator, two sewing machines, 40 radios, 60 solar lights with charging panels and 100 T-shirts.
Speaking at the event, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to Solomon Islands, Cai Weiming said, he was very happy to officiate the ceremony and assured the representatives of the recipient villages that the Chinese Embassy wants to offer more help within its capacity so as to assist more ordinary Solomon Islanders gain tangible benefits from the China-Solomon Islands bilateral relations.
He expressed hope that these donated resources will help improve the recipients’ living and working conditions.
Ambassador Cai took the opportunity to also underscore the progress in Solomon Islands bilateral ties with PRC since their establishment five years ago.
He highlighted some of the infrastructural development achievements that Solomon Islands gained so far from these ties and they are the National Stadium, SINU dormitories, Auki Road Tar-sealing Project and the National Broadband Infrastructure Project.
Ambassador Cai also highlighted that the Chinese Medical Teams deployed to Solomon Islands have treated 25,000 patients and that hundreds of Solomon Islands students and officials with expertise in various professions have travelled to China for further studies or training program.
He said the China-Solomon Islands cooperation gained popular involvement, vast support and brought tangible benefits to Solomon Islands and its people.
The ambassador added that “under the guidance of building a community with shared future and global development initiative proposed by the Chinese President Xi Jinping, China is willing to continue providing assistance within its capacity to help Solomon Islands further advance our cooperation and bring more benefits to our two peoples.”
A representative of the recipient villages said members of the communities highly appreciate the gifts from the Chinese Embassy.
He said the gifts and the assurance of willingness by the Chinese Embassy to help bring tangible benefits to more local communities in the country are an indication of the growing bilateral relations between Solomon Islands and China.
The recipients’ rep said the two communities have never received such assistance with the help of their previous Member of Parliament and they greatly appreciate the visionary leadership of their new MP Oliver Salopuka.
He said together with MP Salopuka, their communities and constituency will work hand-in-hand with PRC for the betterment of their constituency and the nation.
“Once again, Your Excellency, your heart of giving is a blessing to us because it will benefit us and so we will not forget PRC for assisting us today,” the rep of the two recipient villages said.
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
