“LEAVING no one behind is what Chinese believe in and what the Chinese government has been doing.”
These are the words of the Chinese Ambassador to Solomon Islands, Cai Weiming when handing over livelihood materials for the Renbel Constituency.
The Member of Parliament for Renbel Constituency, John Tuhaika Jr, Constituency Development Officer (CDO) George Stuart Baiabe and some of the Renbel constituents on hand to receive the assistance during a brief presentation ceremony at the Chinese Embassy yesterday afternoon.
The livelihood materials, donated under the Rural Sustainable Development Programme (RSDP), included two sewing machines, 40 radios, 40 solar batteries, 260 solar lights, 120 T-shirts and 120 short pants.
In his remarks, the Chinese ambassador said that provincial cooperation is an important part of the China-Solomon Islands bilaterial relations.
He acknowledged Renbel as a beautiful province with abundant resources that when the visa-free exemption agreement between China and Solomon Islands for ordinary citizens takes effect will attract more Chinese tourists to visit the province.
Ambassador Cai also took the opportunity to highlight the Chinese government’s annual scholarships for Solomon Islands, which has opened this week to the public, and welcomed more students from Renbel to apply for a scholarship to study in China and thereafter give back knowledge and skills in service to their motherland, Solomon Islands.
He said the Chinese Embassy will continue to encourage cooperation between China’s Hainan Province and Renbel Province, adding that this cooperation will add more momentum for the development of Renbel.
“Ladies and gentlemen, leaving no one behind is what Chinese believe in and what the Chinese government has been doing.
“By putting its people first, China lifted 800 million people out of poverty. By putting our peoples first, China is ready to work with Solomon Islands to improve lives of the people of Solomon Islands from every province, including Rennell Bellona,” the Chinese envoy said.
Ambassador Cai added that just like Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the G20 Summit in Brazil this week, “If China can make it, other developing countries can make it too.”
He said China will continue to provide assistance within its capacity to help Solomon Islands, deepen cooperation at all levels and create a better future for their two peoples.
In response, MP Tuhaika Jr said the people of Solomon Islands value the friendship established with China.
He said the government and the people of Solomon Islands continue to see the commitment which the government of China places on the people of Solomon Islands, particularly distant communities like Renbel Constituency.
“We are grateful that we are able to meet some of the basic needs of our community. We are still very far behind in terms of development and so we are working very hard with our partners, China being one very important partner, in addressing our basic needs,” MP Tuhaika Jr said.
On the mutual visa- exemption for ordinary passport holders of Solomon Islands and China which will be effective soon, MP Tuhaika Jr said the people of Renbel are keen and will ensure that they prepare themselves to welcome visitors from China.
He said he just came back from China a month ago and the trip was an eye-opening experience for him.
MP Tuhaika Jr said China was able to lift 800 million people out of poverty by itself and that is the message that Solomon Islands should be telling its communities.
He said if China can do it, Solomon Islands can also with commitment and the setting of its priorities correctly.
“So once again, on behalf of the people of Renbel Province and the Government of Solomon Islands, we thank you so much,” MP Tuhaika Jr said.
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
