Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong met Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare today, the first visit to Honiara by the new Australian government.

Penny Wong had no immediate comment on the talks, but said earlier she wanted to discuss pandemic recovery, economic development, climate change and “our common security interests”.

Penny Wong took the time to visit King George VI School, one of the main national secondary schools owned by the Solomon Islands government. She was there to witness the roll out of the Pfizer vaccine to pupils at the school – Australia being a major funder of the vaccine – which ensures pupils can return to school and resume their learning safely .

Australia has supported the Solomon Islands during the pandemic and continues to do so with more vaccines for school-aged children on the way. Penny Wong says Australia will continue to stand by her Pacific family during such hardships and stresses that this assistance is from the people of Australia to the people of the Solomon Islands.

She also visited the community of Burnscreek east of Honiara, it was a humble setting, but it gives her a first-hand account of the lives of ordinary people in the Solomon Islands. While there, she met with community and church leaders, as well as a visit to the community clinic.

This is perhaps the first time the community of Burnscreek has welcomed such a senior foreign dignitary, underscoring Australia’s approach to the Solomon Islands – it will always be about the people and the many values ​​we share.