RENBEL AND HAINAN PROVINCES’ FRIENDSHIP BREWING

BY TAROMANE MARTIN 

Rennell and Bellona Province road to forming an international relationship with China’s Hainan Province is progressing following a visit from a provincial government team to China, last month.

Provincial Secretary, Aubrey Saueha told SIBC News that the visit was to seek opportunities; through this relationship to help improve life in Rennell and Bellona.

Ambassador of Solomon Islands to China, His Excellency Barrett Salato, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Renbel Province, Hon. Jorge Puia, and the  Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province, Ms. Shang Jing attended the signing ceremony.

“The Renbel Teams’ travel to China a few weeks ago was to sign sister relationship with Hainan Province in China.”

“Actually, we did not sign anything specific. We only signed a letter of intent to cement both provinces’ relationship. In the near future we will then enter in to signing some sort of specific MOU in four areas. Agriculture, tourism, education and fisheries,” Provincial Secretary Saueha said.

“These are basically the areas we agreed to work in future time and very soon we will sign an MOU on these certain areas to work together on,” he adds.

The PS said they expect to finalize the specifics in the MOU hopefully by November or early next year.

“Inputs in this MOU will be contributed to by our province and their province. We will put and agree on what areas we will work on so it will not be a one-sided thing.

“Both sides will put together the MOU then we will sign it. But that might take place early next year or by November.

“We are still dialoguing and communicating and hopefully we will sign it soon,” Saueha said.

While details within the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) are yet to solidify, the Hainan Provincial government is already dishing out financial support to improve life in Renbel.

On Thursday last week, June 12^th– 2025, Minister-Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy office in Honiara, Ding Yonghua handed over a cheque of $35,185.00 to the Premier of Rennell and Bellona Province, Hon. Derek Pongi.

The Chinese Embassy confirmed that the donation is from the Hainan Provincial Government of China and aimed at supporting Renbel Province in improving the livelihoods of its people.

On May 14th, Hainan Province of China and Renbel Province of Solomon Islands signed a Letter of Intent in Haikou to establish sister-province relationship.

Hainan is China’s southernmost tropical island province, and is a pioneering free trade port renowned for its island charm, eco-tourism, and dynamic economic growth.

This partnership is expected to further strengthen bilateral ties and promote mutual development in various sectors.

ENDS//