The Guadalcanal Province (GP) Government on Monday received Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Embassy team in Honiara.
Those PPE were donated by the Government of Guangdong Province and Jia Shu Rong Ltd, a private company, a statement from the Guadalcanal Provincial Office said.
Guangdong Provincial Government donated 5,000 medical facial masks whilst Jia Shu Rong Ltd, donated 8,000 daily protective masks and 100 protective clothing.
In welcome the PRC Embassy team, Guadalcanal Premier Francis Sade expressed his happiness to the people, business houses, and government of PRC, in particular, the Guangdong Province for the PPE donations.
“Your donations are timely as we are greatly challenged at this point in time, and Guadalcanal Province is a front-line province in the fight against COVID19,” Premier Sade said.
“We humbly and openly accept this Equipment with deep gratitude to our friends from Guangdong. Please pass on our gratitude to them”. Premier Sade said.
In delivering his few remarks at the handing over ceremony, Counselor Yoa Ming recognized Guadalcanal Province as a very important province in the political landscape of Solomon Islands. It is also the first province that went out of the ordinary and reaches out to PRC, in particular to the Guangdong Province under the leadership of former Premier Anthony Veke.
Mr. Veke’s persistent effort in developing a sub-national relationship with PRC, in particular, Guangdong Province is recognized by Chinese authorities.
The culmination of those efforts without a doubt resulted in the eventual normalization and establishment of diplomatic relations between the Solomon Islands and PRC in September of 2019.
Amongst the many MOU singed between SI and PRC, one important highlighted by Counselor Yao is the MOU on deepening sub-national cooperation’s between the two countries.
This MOU, in particular, is key in Guadalcanal Province’s persistent effort in having a solid relationship with Guangdong Province. He said.
Amongst the many positive outlook Counselor Yao touched on, one desired effort for positive development is the future prospect of harnessing and maximizing the Constituency Development Fund. This can be done by engaging directly with Provinces.
Regarding the COVID19, Counselor Yao assured Guadalcanal Province that authorities in China recognizes the utmost effort and measures implemented by the Solomon Islands government in preparedness and prevention against the COVID19 threat. Thus, Guangdong Provincial Government would like to contribute in that effort, he said.
Counselor Yao then passed on best regards and wishes from the Director-General of Foreign Affairs of Guangdong Province Mr. Cheng to Anthony Veke, the Premier and Provincial Assembly members of Guadalcanal Province.
Director-General Cheng reassures Guadalcanal Province that these gifts are a testament to the two provinces’ friendship. It is just the start, it is the beginning of more in-depth cooperation and exchanges to come in the future.
Also speaking at the ceremony was former Premier Anthony Veke, who is now a Member of Parliament (MP) and Minister for Police and National Security.
He was speaking in this capacity as the President of the Guadalcanal-Guangdong Friendship Association (GGFA).
Mr. Veke thanked the People and Government of China, in particular the Guangdong Province for PPE donations.
“As the president of GGFA, I’m glad to witness these donations. I thank the PRC Embassy team in Honiara and GGFA official to coordinate the delivery of these items to Guadalcanal Province.” Hon Veke said.
He then acknowledged the greetings from Director General of Guangdong Foreign Affairs Mr. Cheng. He replied to his heartfelt thank you to Mr. Cheng and the people and government of Guangdong Province.
“This is indeed the start of many more fruitful cooperation in the future. The GGFA will continue to work with all partners and stakeholders in both the Solomon Islands and PRC to enhance sub-national engagement between our two provinces,” Veke expressed.
