Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has arrived in China for his first visit since striking a security deal with Beijing.
He has pledged to "remain neutral" amid rising China-U.S competition and to prioritise his nation's development needs.
Western analysts have said that Sogavare would be feted after signing the security pact that alarmed Washington and some Pacific Island neighbors including Australia last year.
Sogavare highlighted his focus on infrastructure in a speech to mark the 45th anniversary of independence from Britain on Friday, where he said bigger countries were jostling for influence.
"We want to remain neutral, because it is not in the interest of our people and country to take sides and align ourselves with interests that are not our interests. Our national interest is development," he said.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare Photo: SIG News Service
The prime minister said the need for infrastructure on islands outside the capital, Honiara, is urgent.
Already, Chinese telecoms giant Huawei is building a cellular network financed by a $US66 million Export-Import Bank of China loan, prompting concern by a parliamentary committee about the debt burden, while a Chinese state company is to redevelop Honiara's port.
The Taipei Times reported that during the week-long trip funded by Beijing, Sogavare is to open the nation's embassy, meet Chinese companies, and visit Jiangsu and Guangdong provinces.
