Solomon Islands Acting Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo received a delegation from the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) during a courtesy visit on July 24, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening political party exchanges and bilateral cooperation.
The delegation was led by Zhao Hongtao, deputy director general of the CPC International Department, who is visiting the Solomon Islands to deepen engagement between political parties in the two countries.
During the meeting, Lilo and Zhao discussed opportunities to share experiences in party development and governance while acknowledging the differences between the Solomon Islands' multi-party political system and China's single-party system.
Lilo said the Solomon Islands could learn from the CPC's experience in governance and China's economic development.
"What matters is that Solomon Islands parties can learn from the success of the CPC in governing and building China into one of the successful and strong nations in the world today," he said.
Lilo also said he admired China's development strategies and reaffirmed the Solomon Islands' commitment to the One China Principle, adding that China's territorial integrity should be respected.
Beyond political cooperation, Lilo said the Solomon Islands was keen to learn from China's economic growth and its success in lifting millions of people out of poverty.
Zhao shared the CPC's experience in governance and reiterated the party's willingness to support political party development in the Solomon Islands while expressing respect for the country's multi-party system.
He said the CPC's achievements were reflected in China's long-term political stability and its transformation from an agrarian economy into the world's second-largest economy.
"Our vision is to share our experience and success to help others succeed in their aspirations and to contribute towards building a harmonious world for everyone," Zhao said.
The visit forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen political dialogue and cooperation between the Solomon Islands and China following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2019.
