September 02, 2026
The Shortland Islands
Constituency has taken delivery of a $1.5 million fishing
project funded by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), in
partnership with the Ministry of Rural Development’s (MRD)
Rural Sustainable Development Programme (RSDP).
The
project includes 16 fiberglass open utility boats and 16
60-horsepower outboard motors, which will support
transportation, livelihoods, and economic activities in
rural communities across the constituency.
This
support reflects the PRC’s ongoing commitment through RSDP
to sustainable development, empowering communities through
strategic assistance that drives long-term improvements to
livelihoods and self-sufficiency across Solomon
Islands.
The handover ceremony was held at Point Cruz
Wharf on 20th August before the goods were loaded onto a
waiting vessel for delivery to the
constituency.
Speaking on behalf of the Constituency
office and the Shortland Communities, Constituency
Development Committee (CDC), Caroline Laore, representing
the Women of Shortland Islands, thanked the PRC for the
generous assistance and for a partnership she said aligns
directly with the constituency’s four-year development
programme.
“It is a great honour to receive this
generous gift, which reflects a profound recognition of the
needs and aspirations of our people,” Ms Laore
said.
“As you all know, we come from fishing
backgrounds, in Solomon Islands as in China, and what you
have done is ensure that our people will receive a direct
benefit by improving the capacity of their fishing
techniques. With modern equipment, boats and engines, our
fishermen will improve their catches and their safety. They
will be able to go further out to sea, and these benefits
will ripple through the whole economy of the
village.”
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She added that the new boats, fitted with
tyres at the bow to prevent cracking against rocks, and
equipped with reliable engines, will improve food security
and safety at sea.
“This assistance will increase
household incomes, improve food security, and uplift the
dignity of the hard-working men and women who depend on the
ocean for their livelihood,” she said.
Ms Laore said
the gesture demonstrates that China understands the daily
challenges facing Solomon Islands fisherfolk.
“It
shows that our friendship is not abstract, but practical,
rooted in meeting real needs and improving lives. These
boats and engines will serve not only today’s generation but
will also stand as a legacy of cooperation and solidarity
for generations to come. The income earned will help pay
school fees, and our children will have the opportunity to
earn degrees and doctorates, just as others now working in
Honiara have done.”
She extended sincere thanks to the
governments and people of China and Solomon Islands, and
acknowledged the constituency’s Member of Parliament for his
continued support of rural development
initiatives.
“May this collaboration continue to
flourish, bringing prosperity to our communities and
reinforcing the enduring friendship between Solomon Islands
and the People’s Republic of China,” she
said.
Meanwhile, Counsellor Li Qinghua of the Chinese
Embassy congratulated the Shortland Islands Constituency
office and beneficiary communities on receiving the
project.
She described China’s philosophy of shared
global development: “The over 190 countries and regions of
the world are not on separate boats. We are on one huge
boat. If one room of the boat gets water, the whole boat
tips and sinks. The world is a small global village, and in
our philosophy, we are working for a shared future. No one
should be left behind.”
Ms Li said the support
represents more than boats; it is a tool for fishermen to
generate income, hope for schoolchildren to access
education, and a lifeline for the sick in medical
emergencies.
“These gifts reflect the deep feelings
and affection of the Chinese government and people toward
the government and people of Solomon Islands. We want a
shared future for common development and common
prosperity.”
She noted that 85 percent of Solomon
Islands’ population lives in rural areas, which is why PRC
support is channelled through RSDP.
“If you want a
tree to grow healthy, strong and bear good fruit, you should
take care of the roots. Social and economic development in
rural areas is like the roots, when we take care of the
roots, it gives more productivity and momentum to growth.
That’s why we founded the RSDP programme, focused on the
social and economic development of rural areas.”
Ms Li
closed by wishing the RSDP programme success in Shortland
Islands, and expressed hope that Solomon Islands–China
bilateral relations continue to grow from strength to
strength.
The RSDP is a partnership programme between
the PRC and the Solomon Islands Government through the
Ministry of Rural Development. Since 2023, China has
actively supported RSDP, a proposal-based initiative jointly
implemented by MRD and the Chinese Embassy.
The
programme aligns with China’s Global Development Initiative,
including the Belt and Road Initiative, and supports Solomon
Islands’ National Development Strategy (NDS)
2016–2035.
RSDP primarily targets rural and
semi-urban communities, aiming to strengthen social and
economic infrastructure, promote income-generating
activities, and address food security and climate
resilience.
Other constituencies also received similar
support under the RSDP phase 2 funded
projects.
