Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele is travelling to Beijing to formalise diplomatic relations with China.
Solomon Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Jeremiah Manele. Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Koro Vaka'uta
The Solomons government said it sanctioned the establishment of relations on Monday.
The decision was swiftly followed by Taiwan announcing it was severing diplomatic ties with the Solomons.
A Joint Communiqué to establish relations between Solomon Islands and China will be signed by Minister Manele and his Chinese counterpart, Yi Wang.
The Solomons government said the signing would trigger a series of bilateral discussions between officials on a range of areas in which China would assist Solomon Islands, including infrastructure, education, sports, tourism, health, trade and investment.
Following the Beijing visit, Mr Manele will lead the Solomons' delegation to the UN General Assembly in New York.
