The Solomon Islands has recently established diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates.
The Solomon Islands Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, George Hiele confirms that a Joint Communiqué was signed between the two states in New York towards the end of April.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Honiara says Solomon Islands becomes the sixth Pacific state to formalize relations with U-A-E.
It says U-A-E's Foreign Minister in February this year visited a number of countries in the Pacific including Solomon Islands and discussed his country's 50-million U-S dollars Partnership Programme with the pacific, to be managed by the Abu Dhabi Fund.
The Foreign Affairs statement says the two countries' Ambassadors in New York had discussed economic and cultural cooperation, in particular mechanisms of implementing the U-A-E - Pacific partnership.
Ambassador Beck acknowledged UAE's Foreign Minister's initiative and welcomed bilateral talks between the two states capitals on specific programmes Solomon Islands would like to see supported under the regional cooperation.
A follow up discussion is expected to be under taken by leaders and officials of the two states.