CANBERRA: Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele met Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in Canberra on Wednesday (Jun 26) to debate safety and growth ties, as america and China vie for affect within the Pacific Islands area.
Manele is on his first go to to Australia since becoming leader after national elections in April. He’s anticipated to go to China in July, Solomon Islands media have reported.
Australia is the Solomon Islands largest growth accomplice and needs to deepen safety ties. Manele had informed Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles, who visited final month, his authorities was endeavor a safety overview to find out the way forward for policing cooperation.
Australia and China have a policing presence on the archipelago, strategically situated 1,600km northeast of Australia.
A safety pact struck with China in 2022 by the earlier pro-Beijing chief Manasseh Sogavare, alarmed Canberra and Washington amid concern over China’s naval ambitions within the area.