PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare is due to leave the country tomorrow on his second official visit to China in four years.
Whilst his office has not announced the visit, China’s Foreign ministry said Sogavare will be in China from July 9 to 15.
Government officials spoken to yesterday confirmed Sogavare’s travel to China, but they declined to discuss the composition of the delegation and whose paying for the trip.
However, they say the prime minister will be accompanied by several cabinet ministers and officials.
In-depth Solomons understands one of those accompanying Sogavare is Solomon Islands’ new ambassador to China Barrett Salato, a seasoned diplomat currently working as Director of Trade within the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Honiara.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, left, and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attend a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019. (File Photo | AP)
Salato replaces late John Moffat Fugui, who died of heart failure while serving at the country’s Embassy in Beijing last year.
In Beijing, Sogavare is expected to introduce Salato to the Chinese Government. Salato will return to Honiara before travelling back to officially take up his new role.
Sogavare addressed the nation today at the official 45th independence anniversary event held at Lawson Tama, but he did not mention anything about his trip to China.
He however, acknowledged China and other development partners in his speech.
Sogavare’s first official visit to Beijing came shortly after he controversially switched the country’s diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China in October 2019.
That decision intensified geopolitical debate and manoeuvring across the Pacific to this day.
Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Sogavare’s visit is at the invitation of China’s Premier of the State Council Li Qiang.
Wenbin said Sogavare’s visit will provide new impetus for further growth of the bilateral relations between China and Solomon Islands.
“China stands ready to work with the Solomon Islands and take this visit as an opportunity to deepen political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation and enhance cultural and people-to-people exchange, so as to bring the bilateral relations to a new level,” he added.
“During the visit, the leaders of the two countries will have in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest.”
Besides Beijing, Wenbin said Sogavare will also visit the Chinese cities of Jiangsu and Guangdong.