MINISTER for the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS), Hon. Wayne Kituru Ghemu, stated during the Workshop for Senior Officials of Solomon Islands, organised by Zhejiang Normal University (ZJNU) at the Narada Grand Hotel in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China, on 15 October 2024, that the Solomon Islands relationship with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is based on solid mutual friendship, recognition, and commitment to the One China principle.
“I am here to renew and reaffirm the Solomon Islands friendship and solidarity with the PRC and commitment to the ‘One China Principle, Hon. Ghemu emphatically stated, much to the appreciation of his excellency, Mr. Cheng Yuechong, Vice Chairman of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), leaders from Zhejiang Province, leaders of the Zhejiang Province Department of Commerce, and officials from the ZJNU.
Minister Ghemu informed His Excellency, Yuechong, that the presence of the Nine Provincial Premiers of Solomon Islands in the PRC-organised workshop speaks volumes of the commitment of the Solomon Islands to work with the PRC and its provinces, on mutual interest, to further enhance the young relationship established between the two countries in September of 2019.
Conveying his acknowledgment for the assistance from the PRC government to the government and the people of Solomon Islands, Ghemu stated that the PRC has now become the major infrastructure donor and largest trading partner of the Solomon Islands. Ghemu underscored the diversification of the SI-PRC relations with the growing number of signed agreements and MOUs, which he stated are deepening friendship and widening collaboration.
The MPGIS Minister informed His Excellency that the delegation he brings to the PRC is open to more dialogue regarding the establishment of new sister provincial relations and acquiring new insights from the PRC development experiences to help the provinces in Solomon Islands achieve their government priorities.
Hon. Ghemu congratulated the PRC on the 11th anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a framework that provides for deeper collaboration on issues of mutual concern and development aspirations. He also congratulated the PRC for reaching the 75th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, stating that over the past 75 years, the Community Party of China (CPC) has united and led the PRC people of all ethnic groups in working tirelessly to bring about the two miracles of rapid economic growth and enduring social stability in the PRC.
Minister Ghemu added that the three global initiatives—the Global Development Initiative (GDI) in 2021, the Global Security Initiative (GSI) in 2022, and the Global Civilisation Initiative (GCI) in 2023 have gradually taken shape, thereby offering the PRC’s solution to bridging the development gap in global south countries as well as building a better world together.
He conveyed sincere appreciation on behalf of the government and the people of Solomon Islands to his Excellency, Mr. Cheng Yuechong, and the ZJNU for the warmth and hospitality, describing it as symbolising the sincerity of the SI-PRC Partnership. Minister Ghemu leads a high-level delegation consisting of the Nine Provincial Premiers, Provincial Secretaries, MPGIS officials, and an official from the Prime Minister’s Office who are attending lectures in various topics ranging from Chinese-style modernisation to poverty alleviation beginning at Hangzhou city and the ZJNU main campus at Jinhua city.
Earlier, his Excellency, Mr. Cheng Yuechong, welcomed Minister Ghemu and his delegation, highlighting that over the past five years since September 2019, when diplomatic ties with the PRC and SI were established, cooperation in various fields has flourished, benefiting both peoples. He stated that President Xi Jinping has emphasised that the PRC and SI are trustworthy friends and dependable brothers.
“Hon. Minister, I hope that the visit by your delegation, your Hon. Provincial Premiers, Provincial Secretaries, and Government Officials, can serve as a new starting point for friendship and engagement in the future,” stated his Excellency Yuechong. He added that recently, Zhejiang Province held the fifth plenary session of the fifteenth provincial committee to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, as well as the important speeches delivered by President Xi during his visit to Zhejiang.
His Excellency Yuechong reiterated the PRC’s commitment to advancing the “Eight-Eight Strategy,” striving for deeper reforms, greater breakthroughs, and new heights in pursuit of comprehensive, advanced, high-quality, and sustainable development that is aimed at deepening reforms in a new journey towards Chinese-style modernization. He told Minister Ghemu and his delegation that their presence provided a valuable opportunity for learning from one another and exchanging experiences in governance.
Zhejiang Province is located on the PRC’s South Eastern coast and the Southern wing of the Yangtze River Delta, covering an area of 105,700 square kilometres and a maritime area of 44,400 square kilometres, with a population of approximately 65.77 million. President Xi Jinping once worked in Zhejiang Province for many years where he crafted the “Eight-Eight Strategy,” a comprehensive development plan that has guided Zhejiang through remarkable transformation across multiple sectors.
The province has a robust economy with a GDP of around USD1.18 trillion in 2023, a thriving private economy with over 10.34 million market entities, and a GDP growth of 5.6% in the first half of 2024 despite challenges. It has a high degree of openness where the residents actively participate in the BRI and have established several free trade zones, including those in Zhoushan, Ningbo, Hangzhou, and Jinyi. Zhejiang is also the PRC’s first ecological province, with a forest coverage rate exceeding 61%. The favourable ecological environment earns it the birthplace and leading practitioner of the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.
Zhejiang has a prosperous population as wealth is shared with the people, making it one of the provinces with the smallest urban-rural disparities in the PRC. In 2023, the per capita disposable income for urban and rural residents is approximately USD11,000 and USD5,900, respectively, reflecting growth rates of 5.2% and 7.3%. Zhejiang has ranked first nationally for 23 consecutive years in urban income and 39 years in rural income. The income gap has narrowed to 1.86.
Previously, three provinces signed MOUs and established sister relations with provinces in the PRC. Guadalcanal revitalised its relationship with Guadong province, Malaita province established a relationship with Jiangsu province, and Western province signed a friendship deal with Fujian province. The latest province to sign an MOU is Isabel Province, whose Premier, Lawrence Hayward, travelled ahead of the delegation to Shandong Province with Rennell and Bellona already making contact with Hainan province. Central province plans to establish a relationship with Zhejiang province. Temotu, Makira, and Choiseul are yet to commit to any relationship with any province in the PRC.
The MPGIS-led delegation left Honiara on the 14th of October 2024 and returned on the 24th October 2024 via Beijing.
