Mahuta, Solomons counterpart meet

WELLINGTON: Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has met virtually with her Solomon Islands counterpart — the first contact between the pair since that nation signed a controversial security pact with China.

The meeting comes after Newshub reported on Tuesday the only contact Ms Mahuta had made with Solomon Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Jeremiah Manele had been a letter, to which she had received no response.

This was despite Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manaseh Sogavare confirming in March that his government finalised a security treaty with China, which Ms Mahuta at the time labelled ‘‘deeply concerning’’.

Ms Mahuta said yesterday she had spoken to Mr Manele over Zoom, during which they discussed ‘‘our cooperation as well as the extension of our to Solomon deployment Islands’’.

‘‘New Zealand will continue to work in partnership to weather the profound challenges that face our region, as we have through Covid19 and last year’s unrest in Honiara.’’

She reiterated New Zealand’s ‘‘concerns about the recentlysigned security agreement between Solomon Islands and China’’.

Ms Mahuta and Defence Minister Peeni Henare also announced yesterday the New Zealand Defence Force deployment to Solomon Islands would be extended another year.

The deployment is part of the Pacificled Solomon Islands International Assistance Force, which includes personnel also from Australia, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea.

It was set up in late November 2021 to support the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force in restoring peace and stability following civil unrest. —