The Embassy of the Republic of China in Honiara has released the third payment of the "2007 Constituency and Rural Development Fund".

The Taiwanese Ambassador to Honiara, George Chan, released the sum of SBD$10 million dollars during his meeting with Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, in Honiara yesterday. Ambassador Chan urged members of Parliament and their constituency committees to consult with each other before using the fund on the right things.

Ambassador Chan stated that as a true friend of the government and people of Solomon Islands, Taiwan will always follow the doctrine of "A friend in need is a friend indeed".

Ambassador Chan also reaffirmed his commitment to the Prime Minister to support the Government's implementation of the bottom up approach policy. He said as a developed country in the world, Taiwan is sympathetic with the difficulties faced by people living in the rural areas of the developing world.

Ambassador Chan reiterated that Solomon Islands had sustained unprecedented national disaster on 2 April 2007 stating that the timely release of the above-mentioned fund would help the Solomon Islands recover and rehabilitate from the catastrophe as well.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sogavare thanked the Taiwanese Government for the prompt response to the Solomon Islands' need.