Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong met with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare today, the first visit to Honiara by the new Australian government.
Penny Wong made no immediate comment on the talks, but said earlier that she wanted to discuss pandemic recovery, economic development, climate change and "our shared security interests".
Penny Wong took time to visit the King George VI school, one of the main government owned national secondary schools in the Solomon Islands. She was there to witness the roll out of the Pfizer vaccine to students at the school - Australia being one of the main funders of the vaccine - which ensures students can return to school and resume learning safely.
Australia has stood with the Solomon Islands during the pandemic and continues to do so with more vaccines for school aged children on the way. Penny Wong says that Australia will continue to stand with its Pacific Family during such hardships, and emphasizes that such assistance is from the people of Australia to the people of the Solomon Islands.
She also visited Burnscreek community east of Honiara, it was a humble setting, but it does give her first-hand account on the life of ordinary Solomon Islanders. While there she met with community and church leaders, as well as a visit to the community clinic.
This is perhaps the first time for the Burnscreek community to host such a senior foreign dignitary, underscoring Australia's approach to the Solomon Islands - it will always be about the people and the many values that we share.