BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
THE Japan Ambassador to the Solomon Islands His Excellency Miwa Yoshiaki’s rhetoric clearly states his country’s primary objective is to contribute to the peaceful and autonomous development of the Pacific Region.
In Yoshiaki’s speech at the Exchange of Notes and Grant Agreement Ceremony between the Governments of the Solomon Islands and Japan for the Kilu’ufi Hospital improvement, he said since the independence of the Solomon Islands, our two countries cooperated and strengthened the bilateral relationship, which should be deepened and diversified that cooperation will contribute the peaceful and autonomous development of the Pacific region.
“In this regard, I would like to underline that Japan has no intention to bring geopolitical competition in this region (Pacific).
“In the current era with its compound crises, Japan cannot cope with various challenges alone but it is also Japan’s duty as a responsible country to cooperate with developing partners and work together to address development and global challenges that are becoming increasingly complex and serious.
“In Japan’s efforts to address emerging challenges at the turning point of “the end of post-cold war”, one of the pillars of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy is “Quality growth” in the new era and poverty eradication through such growth.
“We will advance “quality growth” through various projects with our partners to secure the foundation and driving force for economic growth, as well as through cooperation for people-centred development that supports basic human life.
“In these efforts providing quality medical service is one of the critical issues that we have to cooperate,” His Excellency Miwa Yoshiaki said.
He noted that the international community is at a historic turning point and facing compound crises.
“Whilst Global challenges such as climate change and infectious diseases are becoming more serious, rule-based world order and multilateralism are being seriously challenged, including by actions that unilaterally change the status quo by use of force, as the Ukraine situation has shown in a tragical manner to the world.
“The Fragmentation of the international community is becoming more serious.
“It is more necessary than ever for the international community to cooperate to overcome the compound crises by transcending differences in values and conflicts of interest.
“Since joining the Colombo Plan in 1954, Japan has consistently conducted development cooperation in pursuit of peace and prosperity of the international community,” he added.
The Government of Solomon Islands and the Embassy of Japan on Friday (23rd June 2023) in Honiara signed an Exchange of Notes and Grant Agreement for the implementation of the expansion and improvement of Kilu’ufi Hospital in Auki, Malaita Province.
The Government of Japan has funded a grant of two billion and eleven million Japanese Yen (¥ 2,011,000,000) equivalent to SBD 120 million to expand and improve Kilu’ufi Hospital in Aimela, Malaita Province.
