New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully will be arriving today to meet with the Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo, and Cabinet members, and to visit key aid projects.
"This will be my first chance to meet with Gordon Darcy Lilo since he became Prime Minister in November," Mr McCully said in a short interview before his departure from New Zealand."As Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum this year, New Zealand is committed to meeting regularly with Pacific leaders."
"Also New Zealand and the Solomon Islands have a close and longstanding relationship. We will be discussing a range of issues including regional matters, New Zealand's development assistance programme and the RAMSI transition," said Mr McCully.
"New Zealand is investing in a range of projects in the Solomon Islands to create economic opportunities as we look for drawdown from the RAMSI commitment."
As part of a Joint Commitment for Development signed between New Zealand and Solomon Islands September last year, New Zealand will invest up to $NZ25 million in the redevelopment of key infrastructure in the Western Province including the Munda runway, Noro-Munda road and the runway at Gizo.
It is understood that Mr McCully will be visiting these projects during his trip.