by Lamantha Lano
Journalism Intern
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele is expected to sign a range of trade agreements with China that will cater for the export of various agricultural products into the Chinese market.
Manele left for his first official visit to China on Monday straight after the 46th independence anniversary event in Honiara, where he outlined his government’s policy intention for the next four years.
He was accompanied by a high-level government delegation and will be in the communist nation from July 9 to 15.
“China is our largest trading partner,” Manele, who came into power in April this year, said in his independence anniversary speech.
“We have made great strides in progressing market access opportunities with them – with exports already possible for several products,” the prime minister added.
He said the country is already exporting noni juice, roasted cocoa and value-added chocolate products, roasted coffee and timber to China.
“We have expanded this list of products in the past week and are finalising them based on discussions on products specifying sanitary and phytosanitary protocols.
“This will pave the way for exports of any aquatic products in the wild or cultured such as seaweed, roasted cocoa, coffee beans and spices such turmeric, ginger and chilly.
“The agreements we will sign will enable Solomon Islands to trade directly with China on the four additional product categories and will continue to expand the commodities that will be exported to China.
“We hope farmers in the rural areas can earn money by exporting these products to China as part of efforts to expand our economic base to involve the agriculture and fisheries sectors in international trade.”
China became the second country Manele is visiting after taking power. Two weeks ago, he made a week-long visit to Australia where he had discussions with his counterpart Anthony Albanese.
In Canberra, Manele said:
“I stressed that Solomon Islands priority now, is the revitalization of our economy through transformative engagements in our productive and resource sectors to help drive our economy.
“I emphasized our wish to work with all partners through our policy of ‘friends to all and enemies to none’ to achieve economic transformation.
“We discussed key priority areas that Australia may be able to assist Solomon Islands in.”
Apart from meetings with his Australian counterpart, Prime Minister Manele was also given the honour to meet with other senior Leaders in Australia including the deputy Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Attorney General, the Leader of the Opposition, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Deputy Premier of Queensland State.
Manele is expected to visit Japan next.
