International Business News – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to improve relations with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Menasseh Sogavare, the Financial Review magazine reported.
At the leaders’ forum in Fiji, Mr Albanese pledged that Australia would provide assistance without strings attached, respecting national sovereignty as he seeks to restore ties to the region.
In a series of bilateral talks on the afternoon of Wednesday 13 July, Mr Albanese held his first face-to-face meeting with Mr Sogavare to “respectfully” raise Australia’s response to the Solomon Islands leader’s signing with China in April Security protocol concerns.
“Our views on these issues are very clear, we would be concerned about any permanent [military] presence in the Solomon Islands, which of course is so close to Australia, we don’t think it is in the interest of the region.” Mr Albanese said.