BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Since Solomon Islands has forged diplomatic ties with China in 2019, a number of provinces in the country have established sister relationships with provinces in China.

Almost of half of the country’s nine provinces have either established relations with Chinese provinces or are on the pursuit of doing so.

The latest is Makira Ulawa province. This comes following a recent meeting the premier of Makira Ulawa province, Stanley Siapu had with government officials from Guizhou province in China.

The meeting was held on the margin of the Global Eco Forum held in Guiyang City between 30th June to 6th July, in Guizhou province.

Premier Siapu and his Commerce Minister, Hon Martin Karani were part of a government delegation led by the Deputy Speaker to Parliament, Hon Morris Toiraena to the forum.

In an interview, Siapu acknowledged the government of Guizhou province for history that both provinces are on the verge of creating.

“When we presented out interest to PRC Embassy in Honiara for sister relationship, Guizhou province was ready at that time with similar interest.

“This is where we began. Our meeting was the first formal roundtable discussion held on the sister relationship.

“During the meeting, I presented the profile of Makira Ulawa province and the entire idea behind the pursuit of the province for the sister relationship,” he said.

He highlighted the areas of interest of which his province wants to seek cooperation with Guizhou province on and they include; health, education, fisheries, forestry and tourism.

Siapu said Guizhou province has expressed interest on the cooperation and even shared the support they have been rendering to Solomon Islands since 2019.

He mentioned that Guizhou province was instrumental behind medical assistance provided to Solomon Islands in the past years.

“This is one of the areas Guizhou province assured us to work closely on.

“And in response to my presentation, first two areas they assured to support Makira Ulawa with are transportation and medical service.

“The assurance was made based on my presentation and I sincerely acknowledge the people and government of Guizhou for the history we are about to create,” Siapu said.

He noted that now the two provinces have established a link, they will work-on from there towards the establishment of the sister relationship.

“My province sees this undertaking as privilege to realize the potential we have, which will mutually benefit both provinces and countries.

“My government is committed to work towards the establishment of this historic sister relationship between Makira Ulawa province and Guizhou province,” Siapu said.

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