The Solomon Islands is "anticipating a high-level visit from the Government of New Zealand sometime in coming months", but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) won't say if anything has been formally planned.
Manasseh Sogavare, the Solomons leader, on Tuesday released a statement ahead of the Chinese Foreign Minister's upcoming visit. Wang Yi is heading to Honiara later this month amid concerns internationally about the two countries' new security cooperation pact.
The statement mentions other "high-level visits" in recent months, including from the governments of Australia and the United States. Both of those countries sent officials to the Solomons in an attempt to get the local government to back out of the deal with China.
But the statement also says: "The country is anticipating a high-level visit from the Government of New Zealand sometime in coming months."
Newshub asked MFAT if a visit had been formally planned and when it might take place as well as who may be going on it.
"Aotearoa New Zealand and Solomon Islands have a deep and long-standing partnership, and frequently engage across a range of areas, including the ongoing COVID-19 recovery, climate change, and security matters," a ministry spokesperson replied on Wednesday.
"Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta has previously confirmed that she is open to travelling to Solomon Islands in coming months at a time suitable to Solomon Islands ministers.
"MFAT deputy secretary of the pacific and development group, Andrew Needs, travelled to Honiara in mid-March this year for a range of high-level calls, including meeting with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare."
Earlier this month, as reports were emerging about Wang's trip, Mahuta told Newshub "there's definitely an interest to go and travel around the Pacific". She was pushed on whether that could include the Solomons, but only responded that she had "an interest going to countries across the Pacific."
She also mentioned interest in participating in the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum, which is expected to take place in the coming months.
Mahuta has previously defended herself against criticism towards her lack of travel as foreign minister by saying she's been constrained by COVID-19 protocols and border settings. She has made a number of trips, however, including to Europe in February and Fiji in March.
It comes just as the Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed she will fly to Fiji on Thursday, less than 24 hours after visiting Japan to support new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the QUAD meeting, and only after becoming the minister on Monday.
The signing of a security cooperation agreement between China and the Solomons sent shockwaves across the Pacific, with New Zealand, Australia, the United States and others criticising it. They've said the Solomons should look within the Pacific for security assistance, pointing to the Biketawa Declaration.
Despite visits from Australia's then-Pacific Minister and the US' Indo Pacific coordinator, Solomons has gone through with the deal. The full version of the agreement hasn't been released publicly, but a draft has been leaked, suggesting China could establish a naval base in the Solomons.
Mahuta spoke with the country's Foreign Affairs Minister Jeremiah Manele on Wednesday morning.
Mahuta and Manele discussed "the critical importance of the Pacific Islands Forum as a space for members to work together on issues of mutual interest and concern".
"[She] reiterated Aotearoa New Zealand's concerns about the recently signed security agreement between Solomon Islands and China, and welcomed Minister Manele's assurances that the agreement will not lead to a Chinese military base", an MFAT readout says.
Following that meeting, Mahuta announced the extension of a Defence Force deployment to the Solomons for another 12 months. Personnel were first sent there late last year amid unrest in Honiara, partly over the Solomons withdrawing recognition of Taiwan and establishing relations with Beijing.
