Solomon Islands leader visits Beijing

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang review a honour guard during a welcome ceremony. Pic/AP

Leaders of the Solomon Islands and China on Monday promised to expand relations that have fueled unease in Washington and Australia about Beijing's influence in the South Pacific. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare met Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the country's No. 2 leader, Premier Li Qiang. Sogavare and Li presided over the signing of agreements on police, economic and technical cooperation.

"We are here to further boost relations," Sogavare told Li following a ceremony at which a Chinese military band played the Solomon Islands national anthem. The Solomon Islands, 2,000 km of Australia, has been China's biggest success in a campaign to expand its presence in the South Pacific. Sogavare's government switched official recognition in 2019 to Beijing from Taiwan, the self-ruled island democracy claimed by the mainland's ruling Communist Party as part of its territory.

The two governments "will establish a comprehensive strategic partnership of mutual respect and common development," Li said. The Solomon Islands had also signed a secretive security pack with Beijing.

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