Solomons provincial premiers arrived back in the country today after a whirlwind two-week trip to China aimed at bolstering sister relations with provinces in the communist nation.
Provincial Government minister Rolland Seleso led the 22-member delegation that includes Honiara City mayor Eddie Siapu and other officials.
In-depth Solomons was unable to catch up with any of the premiers to share their experiences of the trip and or any agreements they may have signed.
A government statement issued today however, said during the trip the premiers attended a seminar and visited heritage sites, industrial and digital companies, sports venues, health laboratories and trade centres.
The statement said China funded the trip.
This is the first trip for the country’s premiers since Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare controversially switched diplomatics from Taiwan to China in 2019.
They are the latest group to have visited China.
The first group to visit were journalists from Solomon Islands main news outlets.
Prime Minister Sogavare and his ministers have so far made two visits – the first immediately after switching ties, the second being in July this year.
On both visits, Sogavare met Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping and signed several bilateral agreements.