THE communities of Temarae and Paele in North New Georgia Constituency in the Western Province were gifted with various livelihood items by the Chinese Embassy under its ongoing livelihood assistance initiative.
The donated items included two Ice Machines, 20 Portable power sources with Solar charging panels, two sewing machines, 100 solar reading lights, 60 solar flashlights, 120 T-shirts and 100 short pants.
Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Solomon Islands, Cai Weiming handed over these items to the Constituency Development Officer Gift Maclean Mana and representatives of the recipient communities in a presentation ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy on Thursday 7 November.
Ambassador Cai, in his remarks, highlighted that the Chinese Embassy will continue to provide assistance within its capacity to communities in Solomon Islands.
He also took the opportunity to highlight the significance of the agreement between China and Solomon Islands on visa-exemption for ordinary passport holders, which he signed earlier that day with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Peter Shanel Agovaka in the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The PRC envoy said this milestone achievement, accomplished only after five years of the establishment of the PRC-Solomon Islands bilateral relations, will further facilitate cooperation between the peoples of the two countries, including the people from Western Province.
Ambassador Cai said the Western Province has very close relations with China, especially with Fujian Province, with which it signed a Sister Relations Agreement early this year with the aim of bringing tangible benefits to both provinces.
The ambassador said many students, officials, business persons from Western Province have travelled to China to seek further education, training and business opportunities and likewise many Chinese tourists and business persons have come over to visit the Western Province.
He said certainly the Mutual Visa-Exemption between China and Solomon Islands will further facilitate cooperation between the people of China and Solomon Islands, including the Western Province.
Ambassador Cai said these achievements would not have been possible without the support from the local communities of Solomon Islands and conveyed appreciation for this demonstration of benevolence.
In response, CDO Mana thanked the Chinese Embassy on behalf of the North New Georgia Constituency and its Member of Parliament, John Dean Kuku for its gesture of goodwill.
Mr Mana said he and the representatives of Temarae and Paele were very happy to receive the donated items, which would go towards meeting the needs of these two communities.
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
