“Tonga and Solomon Islands to deepen connections and friendship”

GOVERNMENT OF TONGA
MEDIA RELEASE
(9th September, 2025)

Honiara, 9 September, 2025:- The Prime Minister of Tonga Hon Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke held a bilateral
meeting this morning, with the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands and Chair of the Pacific Islands
Forum, Hon, Jeremiah Manele, following the opening of the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Meetings in
Honiara.
The two Leaders exchanged friendly conversations reflecting on the longstanding friendship and
traditional links between Tonga and the Solomon Islands.
Both Leaders share aspirations on addressing common challenges, to navigate the region in changing
times, in the implementation of the 2050 Strategy.
In the promotion of peace and security, both Tonga and the Solomon Islands have collaborated on
promoting an ocean of peace in the Southwestern Pacific Islands of the Solomon Islands and Papua
New Guinea, dispatching missionaries to both countries in the past, and providing assistance in a
regional partnership between the Solomon Islands Government and the Pacific Islands Countries to
restore law and order in the Solomon Islands in the RAMSI programme.
The Solomon Islands is looking to deepen its connection with Tonga in sports development
particularly, rugby and sharing best practice in public private sector investments and partnerships.
The two leaders also discussed prospects for improving fisheries economic returns of the Forum
Member countries, as a longstanding forum agenda.
The Solomon Islands is a strong leader in the Pacific Islands Forum.
Tonga joins other Forum Members in offering their unwavering support to the Forum Chair in his
discharge of duties in the next chapter of the journey of the Pacific Islands Forum.

-ENDS

Issued by the: The Prime Minister’s Office, P.O. Box 62, Nuku’alofa, Tonga. Tel: (676) 7401351 Fax: (676)
23 888; For media enquiries- Email: pmopressroom@gmail.com Website: www.pmo.gov.to