Secretary of the US Navy Ray Mabus has reiterated the ongoing ties of friendship that bind the United States of America and Solomon Islands during a meeting with Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Rick Hou last week.

Mabus paid a two-day visit from the 30th to the 31st of March as part of the United States Commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the United States Marine landing at Guadalcanal.

Secretary Mabus and United States Ambassador to Solomon Islands Teddy Taylor paid tribute to the United States military personnel who served in the Battle of Guadalcanal and honored those who made the ultimate sacrifice during a wreathe laying ceremony at the American Memorial to the Battle of Guadalcanal.

They also visited Hell's Point where the United States is working closely with the Solomon Islands Government to clear thousands of pieces of unexploded ordinance that remain from World War two.