The Solomon Islands government said officials from both countries had on Thursday “initialled” elements of the proposed security agreement with China which would be signed at a later date. “The draft framework agreement will be cleaned up and await signatures of the two countries’ foreign ministers,” said the statement issued by the Solomon Islands government’s communication unit.
Australia, New Zealand and the US have all raised concerns about the deal but Solomon Islands said it would continue to uphold its foreign policy of “friends to all and enemies to none”. The government said it would “work with all partners in providing a safe and secure nation where all people are able to co-exist peacefully”.
