Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the United States Embassy Honiara, Russell Comeau, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Jeremiah Manele, visiting Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, National Security Council, Mr. Kurt Campbell and Permanent Secretary of MFAET, Colin Beck after discussions yesterday.

 

 

 

 

 

Solomon Islands “friends to all, enemies to none” policy remains as it seeks to preach diplomacy over conflict in the continuous increase of power politics in the region and the world.

This message was amplified during bilateral discussions this week with the visiting Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and the U.S high level inter-agency delegation from the White House.

The visiting dignitaries were reminded of Solomon Islands firmness in its position of focusing on its domestic risks and threats and that it values all partners, and does not want engage in power politics but to uphold the principle of “friends to all, and enemies to none”

Bilateral discussions between Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and his Solomon Islands counterpart, Hon. Jeremiah Manele on Sunday

It also registered its concern that billions of dollars spent on military equipment is taking the world’s attention away from combating climate change and exacerbates the development challenges for countries such as the Solomon Islands.

The Solomon Islands government also used its meeting with the U.S delegation to discuss certain reports in the public newspaper that undermines democracy.

The government said these types of allegations sow seeds of mistrust and misunderstanding in any relationship.

It said while Solomon Islands respects the freedom of its citizens to report, it does not embrace irresponsible reporting that supports any external and internal narrow agendas.

The government, however, welcomed the commitments made at the Washington Summit, and is pleased to note that Washington has moved forward with its commitment to engage with the Pacific through the appointment of Ambassador Reed as the Pacific Envoy.

The Solomon Islands remains close friends to both the US and Japan and is further seeking to strengthen the good relations that exist between them.

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