China's Xi meets Pacific islands leaders in Beijing in bid to strengthen ties

(12 Jul 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY
AGENCY POOL
Beijing, China - 12 July 2024
1. Wide of meeting between China's President Xi Jinping, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele and officials
2. Wide of Chinese officials
3. Mid of Xi speaking
4. Mid of Manele during meeting
5. Wide of national flags of China and Solomon Islands
6. Mid of Manele
7. Mid of Xi
8. Various of meeting
9. Wide of Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai and other officials arriving for meeting
10. Wide of meeting
11. Various of Xi speaking
12. Wide of national flags of China and Vanuatu
11. Mid of Salwai speaking
12. Mid of Xi listening
13. Various of meeting
STORYLINE:
The Solomon Islands’ new prime minister Jeremiah Manele met with China's President Xi Jinping on Friday.
Manele held talks with Xi in the Chinese capital after a stop in coastal Fujian province earlier this week as part of a visit to the country as Beijing and the strategic Pacific archipelago strengthen their ties.
China’s influence increased significantly during the term of Manele’s predecessor, with the country switching diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China and striking a secretive security pact that has raised fears of China’s security forces gaining a foothold in the region long dominated by the U.S., Australia and New Zealand.
Those moves came at a time of major tension between Washington and Beijing, and the Solomons’ tighter ties with China are seen as undermining the influence of the U.S. and other traditional allies in the Western Pacific.
During the meeting, Xi said China regards Solomon Islands as "a good friend, a good partner, and a good brother."
Manele said his country values a strategic relationship with China.
Xi also met the prime minister of Vanuatu on Friday in back-to-back meetings with Pacific Island nations.
China and Vanuatu are commemorating 42 years of diplomatic ties, Prime Minister Charlot Salwai said.
Both visiting prime ministers said that China's development and poverty alleviation is a model for other countries to learn from.
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