TOZAKA WELCOMES “SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION”

Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Milner Tozaka has welcomed the “South-South Cooperation” when he addressed the Asian-African Summit of leaders in Jakarta, Indonesia, last Thursday.

Minister Tozaka said the South-South cooperation will harness trade and investment for Solomon Islands and neighbouring Pacific Island countries.

He said the Solomon Islands Government is pleased with the integration of Pacific Small Islands Developing States into the fold of Asian Cooperation framework which is a substantive action towards enhancing the South-South Cooperation.

Speaking on the theme “Strengthening of South-South Cooperation to Promote World peace and Prosperity” Minister Tozaka said the Solomon Islands Government values the South-South Cooperation because it offers a path that will inevitably and appropriately compliment the conventional North-South Cooperation.

The Minister welcomed investment initiatives in the tourism sector, particularly in eco-tourism and in agriculture and other productive sectors which would involve and empower the majority of Solomon Islands rural population.

Honorable Tozaka also informed the summit that apt construction of blue economy initiatives to foster sustainable development is a priority for Solomon Islands.

Meanwhile, he said the Solomon Islands Government places great value on its cooperation with the Republic of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and Timor Leste on the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral reefs, Fisheries and Food Security is a classic example of the South- South Cooperation.

Honorable Tozaka also brought the attention of the summit to climate change and its impact on land inundation, sea level rise, loss of biodiversity, unpredictability of weather patterns and related effects these has had on food security for small Islands developing states like the Solomon Islands.

Prior to the Asian-African Summit, Honourable Tozaka had also made a country statement during the Asian-African Ministerial Meeting held in Jakarta Indonesia on Monday, 20th April.

Solomon Islands is among 107 Countries that have attended and participated in the meetings and commemorations.