Solomon Islands expects cooperation with Qingdao

A delegation from the Solomon Islands, led by Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, visited Qingdao city of East China's Shandong province from July 13 to 15, engaging in friendly exchanges in various fields including economy, education, culture and tourism.

They also conducted visits in Qingdao focusing on marine industries, port construction and logistics, and shipbuilding.

On July 14, the delegation visited Qingdao's Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, where they gained an in-depth understanding of the institute's research progress in marine biology, aquaculture, and genomics. They showed keen interest in topics such as shellfish breeding and research-enterprise cooperation.

Manele said that the Solomon Islands possesses abundant marine resources, and in the future, there could be deeper cooperation between the Solomon Islands and the research institute in areas such as aquaculture and marine research.

Manele also held discussions with officials from institutions including the Ocean University of China and the First Institute of Oceanography under the Ministry of Natural Resources of China.

The delegation also had the chance to explore Qingdao Port, a subsidiary of Shandong Port Group, where they were captivated by the world's first fully automated container terminal powered by hydrogen and 5G networks.

Manele praised the technological equipment used at the terminal, especially the intelligent control system independently developed by the port.

In the shipbuilding production workshop of Qingdao Allheart Marine Co Ltd, which is located in the Qingdao West Coast New Area, Manele praised the achievements of the company in technological innovation and international market expansion, while gaining a comprehensive understanding of the company's latest advancements in material applications, energy conservation, and emission reduction.

The delegation also paid a visit to the Tsingtao Beer Museum in Qingdao, learning about the rich history and modern production techniques of Tsingtao Brewery while enjoying a tasting session. The century-long development journey of the company as well as the beer's delightful original flavor left a lasting impression on them.

The trip to Qingdao was part of the Prime Minister's week-long visit to China from July 9, which aimed to further deepen cooperation and coordination between the two countries.