PM: Provincial Sister relations also encouraged with other countries

By Ian Kaukui

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele says the government encourages the forging of provincial sister relationship with other countries, apart from the Peoples republic of China (PRC).

Mr. Manele made the statement after his recent visit to China, where several provinces in China signed agreements of sister relations with provinces in the country.

He said in his earlier visit to Australia, he also met with the Brisbane Deputy Mayor, where a potential Provincial sister relationship was discussed.

“Brisbane is a gate way for Solomon Islands and over the years we haven’t explored the opportunities that we have in Queensland and Brisbane.”

“During my State visit to Australia, when I called in to Brisbane I met with the Deputy Premier and we discussed the possibility for Queensland to have a sister relationship with Guadalcanal or any other provinces,” he said.

Manele also confirms that Brisbane and Honiara city will be establishing a sister relationship. He said the Solomon Islands High Commissioner in Australia and the Consular in Brisbane are now pursuing the opportunity.

He adds, the government would also like to have such similar opportunities in terms of the prefectures in Japan having similar sister relations with provinces in Solomon Islands.

“So it’s something that is not restricted to provinces in China but also we would like to explore with provinces in other countries,” Manele said.

SIBC news understands, over the past five years, the Solomon Islands relationship and cooperation with China has diversified and expanded beyond state to sub state levels, as demonstrated by the signing of provincial sister relations.

The first sister relationship was signed even before the diplomatic switch from Taiwan to China between Guadalcanal Province and Guangdong Province of China.

Just this year, Malaita signed a sister relation with Jiangsu province of China and just during the recent trip to China, Western and Isabel province went on to sign their sister relations with the Fujian and Shangdong province of China respectively.

Rennell and Bellona Province will soon sign its sister relations with Hainan province of China as well.

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