Solomon Islands continue to benefit from its diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in a favorable way.
And is even getting stronger every day as the two diplomatic allies keep broadening their areas of collaboration to help and enhance the social and economic well-being of rural Solomon Islanders.
According to the Ministry Rural Development, the opening of the Kolokolo Rural Health Clinic (RHC) in the Western Province’s South Vella La Vella Constituency (SVC) last month (April 26, 2023) was another result of the SI-PRC partnership.
MRD highlighted, the clinic project was one of the many livelihood projects co-funded by the Solomon Islands Government and PRC through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Program administered by the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD).
PRC Ambassador to Solomon Islands His Excellency (H.E.) Li Ming had the honor to attend and witness the official opening of the health infrastructure, along with the presence of the Member of Parliament for SVC, Honourable Fredrick Kologeto, who is also the current Minister for the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour, and Immigration, and Honourable Premier of Western Province Billy Veo, officials from both the national and Western Provincial governments, and constituents of SVC.
“Seeing is believing,” H.E. Ambassador Li emphasized in the opening line of his brief speech. He said the Kolokolo clinic is an important achievement through the Chinese Government Rural Development Assistance (CGRDA) to Solomon Islands adding it is also a testament of the firm friendship between the Solomon Islands and China. “…it is also a symbol of the friendship between China and the people of Solomon Islands.
In the last three years, China has helped development in the rural areas together with the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) of the Solomon Islands Government. “China has supported the rural areas of Solomon Islands on many livelihood projects and the kolokolo clinic is a role model of our cooperation,” he said.
Ambassador Li believes that the clinic will provide more convenience to the people of Kolokolo and Vella La Vella.
“China has provided more medical services to the people of the Solomon Islands, especially during the time of COVID-19, and we will continue to do that. We will continue to support the Western Province, the constituency, communities, villages, and the Solomon Islands.
“Our friendship will last forever, and we will continue our friendship,” he stressed.
Ambassador Li then applauded MP Kologeto for his leadership and vision and everyone, including landowners, who contributed towards the successful implementation of the clinic project.
While highlighting achievements in China-SI health cooperation, Ambassador Li also reaffirmed support for SI-China relations and expressed willingness to embrace more China-sponsored projects in both Western Province and the South Vella La Vella constituency.
He said the Chinese Embassy office in Honiara will continue to support the people of the Solomon Islands for sustainable development. CDF is a program of the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) and is implemented by the 50 constituencies in the country through the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) with the purpose of improving the social and economic livelihoods of all Solomon Islanders.
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is the only donor partner providing CDF support to the Solomon Islands Government since 2019–2022, which co-founded this wonderful infrastructure in SVC and other livelihood projects in other constituencies in the country.
MRD’s vision is to ensure all rural Solomon Islanders meaningfully participate in development activities to improve their social and economic livelihoods.
