Japan-Solomon Relations
Courtesy Call on Prime Minister SOGAVARE of Solomon Islands by Parliamentary Vice-Minister UESUGI
April 26, 2022
On April 26, commencing at 8:30 a.m. local time (On April 26, at 6:30 a.m. JST) for approximately 60 minutes, Mr. UESUGI Kentaro, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who was visiting Solomon Islands, paid a courtesy call on Hon. Manasseh Damukana SOGAVARE, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands. The overview is as follows.
- At the outset, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Uesugi stated that Pacific Island countries are irreplaceable partners for Japan and that he would like to make efforts to further strengthen relations with Solomon Islands, with which Japan has consistently built friendship since the end of World War II. In response, Prime Minister Sogavare expressed his gratitude for Japan's support over the years.
- Parliamentary Vice-Minister Uesugi conveyed that Japan intends to steadily promote Japan’s Pacific Bond (KIZUNA) Policy announced at the Ninth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM9) and support the sustainable development of Solomon Islands, and the two sides concurred on continuing close bilateral coordination to realize a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific."
- In the course of their discussion on the security environment in the Pacific Islands region, the two sides also discussed the security cooperation agreement between China and Solomon Islands. Parliamentary Vice-Minister Uesugi stated that Japan is monitoring the situation with concern and conveyed Japan's frank opinion, and Prime Minister Sogavare explained Solomon Islands' position.