Prime minister Anthony Albanese meets with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare earlier this eyarCredit:Joe Armao
But Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare failed to attend the commemoration,organised by the US,in a move local media reported as a “snub” and Sherman labelled a “missed” opportunity. Both Australia and the US have stepped up their outreach to the country,and the broader Pacific region,after China signed a security pact with the Solomons earlier this year.
Conroy announced Australia would contribute $100 million Solomon Island dollars (about $A17.3 million) to the Pacific Games following a three-day visit to the country. The trip included a bilateral meeting with Sogavare who again gave assurances there would be no Chinese military base on the islands.
“Our security partnership was obviously one part of that[meeting],where the prime minister repeated his assurance that Australia is the security partner of choice for the Solomon Islands and that he and the Solomon Islands government would come to Australia first if there are any gaps that need to be filled,” Conroy said.
Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy met with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on a three-day visit to the country.Credit:Joe Armao
“Australia is the largest development partner of the Solomon Islands and we are working on so many joint projects to advance our shared economic interests,the Pacific Games being one example.”
Conroy’s meeting with Sogavare is the latest in a string of bilateral meetings between the leader and Australian ministers. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met Sogavare on the sidelines of the Pacific Islands Forum,in Suva,Fiji,last month and Foreign Minister Penny Wong met him in June.