Solomons Islands submits plan to China for support in hosting 2023 Pacific Games Featured
Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele travel to Beijing to formally establish to diplomatic ties on September 2019
22 October 2019. Solomon Islands has submitted a detailed proposal to China for support in hosting the 2023 Pacific Games.
Mannaseh Sogavare during his state visit to China last month. Photo: Facebook / Prime Minister Press Secretariat PI
The prime minister last week announced China had promised grant funding of more than $US50 million to support the country's hosting of the games, the ABC reported.
Mannaseh Sogavare's announcement came after an historic state visit to China following the severing of diolomatic ties with Taiwan.
A senior advisor to the Solomons Government, Clint Flood, said since the diplomatic switch they had met twice with teams from China about support for the event.
Beijing was now considering a Solomon Islands' proposal, which involved China taking over Taiwan's previous commitments including the construction of the Main Stadium and several other key venues, Mr Flood said.
The timeline the national authority was working to aimed to have construction beginning mid 2020 with all facilities to be completed by December 2022 six months before the games opening ceremony, he said.
Solomon Islands was also in the process of finalising funding commitments from other donor parties for the games.
- RNZI
