China trip is successful and fruitful
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare described his trip to China as fruitful as his government signed nine more agreements with the Peoples Republic of China (PRC).
On his arrival yesterday, he announced 9 key Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The first is Implementation of the Police Cooperation between the Ministry of Public Security of the PRC and the Ministry of Police and National Security and Correction Service of Solomon Islands 2023-2025.
He said the implementation plan will enhance cooperation on Law Enforcement and Security matters with a commitment by China to provide support as needed for strengthening Solomon Islands Law Enforcement Capacity.
He said the plan is to maintain law and order, security and social stability protecting the security of all citizens of Solomon Islands thereby creating a sound and stable environment for the social and economic development of the country.
He explained that the scope of the implementation plan includes various training, capacity building initiatives and equipment for the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), including in the areas of public emergency, establishment of digital communication, assist VSF, establishment of forensic autopsy lab, cyber security, traffic control, major events security protection like Pacific Games and National General Election, preparation of United Nation mission service, police academy, infrastructure construction and advisory support.
He said the second MOU was between the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, National Disaster and Meteorology of Solomon Islands and the Ministry of Emergency Management of PRC on Cooperation of Management Reduction and Emergency responses.
He said this MOU will cover emergency supply, assistance in contingency plan between Solomon Islands and China. It also enables sharing of information on disaster reduction measures between both parties, provides disaster monitoring, early warning systems, and remote sensing cooperation.
In terms of capacity building it will provide training and reciprocal visits between both parties and implementation of strengthened coordination between Solomon and China.
The third MOU is between China Meteorology and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Management.
Under this MOU, it provides exchange of collaborative activities on meteorology science and technology in support of the United Nations early warning initiative. Activities included training, exchange of experts, specialists and data management.
In areas of cooperation, it includes weather forecasting, disaster risk reduction, meteorology, early warnings, numerical weather prediction and climate prediction.
The fourth MOU is between the Foreign Affairs and External Trade with the China Council for Promotion of International Trade in further expanding trade.
This MOU provides for the establishing of marketing and cooperation, fulfilling trade and investment transparency initiatives in information sharing and strengthening various cross sectoral areas-to trade and investment, supporting dialogue, visits and exhibitions, fairs or forums and dispute settlement mechanisms.
The fifth MOU is on protocols on the requirement for the export of copra oil cake from Solomon Island to China between the general administration of the Custom of China and the Ministry of Agriculture and Live stock of Solomon Islands.
PM Sogavare said on 11th December, 2020 an exchange of note has been signed by China and Solomon Island government, enabling Solomon Island preference market access to the Chinese market duty free for 98 percent.
The sixth MOU is the 2023 Rural Sustainable Development program between China International Development Cooperation and the Ministry of Rural Development.
“This MOU will facilitate a global development initiative in 2030 to promote economic development and improvement of people’s livelihood.
“The Solomon Islands rural sustainable program 2023 arranged with China a funding of USD10 million which will be for the projects.
“This program is under the Ministry of Rural Development and it is hoped this program will be up and running by September,” he said.
The seventh MOU is the Implementation Agreement on Sport Technical Assistance Project for the Solomon Islands 2023 pacific games.
He said on March 28th , 2023 an exchange of note had been signed between the government and China agreeing to undertake sport technical assistance project for the 2023 pacific games.
He said the implementation agreement includes opportunities for 80 athletes to participate in 90 days’ training in seven sports and seven coaching teams conducting intensive training.
Currently, the athletes are now undergoing intensive training in China.
The eight MOU is on Civil Air transport. The agreement provides for the establishing of operation and regulation of national air services on routes specified for air transport of passengers and cargos. This presents Solomon Island with expanding national air services, with the Asia region providing competitiveness and efficiency for airlines operating between Solomon Island and the region, further promoting multiple destinations for tourism.
He said the final MOU is the Joint Chinese Language Education program with the Ministry of Education of the PRC and the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development.
This is to promote people-to-people exchange between the two countries. Under this MOU, China will assign a Language Teaching Advisor to Solomon Islands to coordinate joint development of policy documents and Curriculum for Primary and Secondary Schools to deepen cultural exchange.
He said China is the largest trading partner and it will be the largest economy in the world, so we need to understand and speak their language to be effective in our commercial negotiation and business transactions.
BY CHARLES KADAMANA
