A NZ Government delegation led by DPM and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carmel Sepuloni, will fly into Honiara tomorrow for a two-day visit during which they will hold discussions with the government and visit NZ-funded projects
THE New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carmel Sepuloni, is due to arrive in Honiara tomorrow for a two-day visit.
This was announced in a statement issued yesterday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade is pleased to announce a two-days visit of New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Carmel Sepuloni to the Solomon Islands from the 16th-18th April 2023.
“The Deputy Prime Minister is leading her team on its Pacific Mission to Honiara where she is expected to make a call on the Governor General, Sir David Vunagi at Government House upon arrival as well as a courtesy visit to the Prime Minister, Hon Manasseh Sogavare.
“Hon Sepuloni is also expected to hold a Bilateral Meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon Jeremiah Manele,” MFAET said.
MFAET said the delegation will also visit a number of New Zealand funded projects, including Saint Vincent Early Childhood Education Centre at Burns Creek, Amazing Grace Cocoa Farm at Tenaru, Multi-Purpose Youth Hall and the Forum Fisheries Agency.
It said Minister Sepuloni will also have the chance to have morning tea with returned workers under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme before leaving the country on Tuesday morning.
The diplomatic relation between Solomon Islands and New Zealand was established on 7 July 1978 when Solomon Islands gained independence. Since then, cordial relations have been equally enjoyed by both countries based on mutual interests.
Solomon Islands had benefited a lot from this relationship over the years through the assistance given by the New Zealand Government. Most notably, COVID-19 pandemic assistance.
The cordial relations have been strengthened by frequent bilateral visits from both countries.
Minister Manele visited New Zealand last October and the New Zealand Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence Committee paid a visit to Honiara last month.
Prime Minister Sogavare and the Minister of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD), Lanelle Tanangada, have also been invited to visit New Zealand during the course of this year.
