Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday hailed the wide consensus on security, climate change and other issues reached between China and the Solomon Islands during his trip to the Pacific nation.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele in Honiara, Wang said the two countries agreed to lay a solid political foundation for bilateral relations, build the Belt and Road Initiative, implement the Global Development Initiative and jointly build a secure and stable environment.

"We firmly support each other's national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and support and safeguard our own core interests and the development paths chosen by each of us," said Wang.

China and the Solomon Islands will also jointly promote interconnectivity, tackle climate change, promote exchanges between the two countries, and jointly safeguard the interests of developing countries, he said.

The Chinese diplomat is on a trip to South Pacific Island nations, including Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea as well as the Solomon Islands. He will chair the second China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Fiji.

Four principles in China's relations with Pacific Island nations

On Thursday in the capital city of the Solomon Islands, Wang reiterated that China will commit itself to the four principles of equal treatment, mutual respect, win-win cooperation and openness and inclusiveness when it develops relations with Pacific Island countries.

"China's cooperation with the Island countries is not targeted at any country, nor is it subject to interference by any other country," said Wang.

China respects the various ties that the Island countries have established with other countries and is willing to carry out more tripartite cooperation in an open attitude with other countries in the region and beyond, he said.

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'The relations conform to the development of the times'

The establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries is not long, but has made a good start and steady development, Wang said when meeting Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Honiara.

Noting that the two countries have become good friends with mutual trust and good partners with mutual support, Wang said that "facts prove that the political decision of the two countries to establish diplomatic ties fully conforms to the development and progress of the times and the long-term interests of the people of both countries."

During the talks, Wang also expressed appreciation for the Solomon Islands' "firm determination to safeguard national interests" and "its adherence to the one-China principle."

For his part, Sogavare said that China has become the largest infrastructure partner and a reliable development partner of the Solomon Islands.

Bilateral cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect has brought tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries, he added.

A resilient and vital relationship

During talks with Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele, Wang said that the relationship between China and the Solomon Islands has shown strong resilience and vitality and is at the forefront of China's relations with Pacific Island countries.

The Solomon Islands is the first stop of this South Pacific trip, which aims to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, build consensus, deepen friendship and expand cooperation, Wang said.

"China will, as always, support the Solomon Islands in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, accelerating national development and rejuvenation, implementing the important consensus reached by the heads of the two countries and elevating bilateral relations to a higher level," Wang said.

Highly valuing China's development achievement, Manele said he wishes the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China a complete success.

He thanked China for its effort in helping to develop the local economy, improve people's livelihood and fight the pandemic and said the Solomon Islands is full of expectations for future bilateral cooperation.

It will continue to strictly abide by the one-China principle, which is the political basis of developing Solomon Islands-China relations, Manele said.

The two sides agreed to build the landmark the Belt and Road Initiative and expand cooperation in a wide range of areas, including agriculture, fisheries, timber and health.

After talks with the foreign minister of the Solomon Islands, the two foreign ministers attended a signing ceremony of China-Solomon Islands cooperation documents on the "blue economy," tariff preferences, public health, civil aviation, disaster prevention and mitigation.

On Thursday, Wang also met with Acting Governor General of the Solomon Islands John Patteson Oti, and said China respects the Solomon Islands in developing friendly relations with all countries in the world.

(Cover: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare in Honiara, the Solomon Islands, May 26, 2022. /Chinese Foreign Ministry)