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Solomons PM: Nothing sinister with China maritime deal

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="A photo taken on April 22, 2022 shows China" s="" ambassador="" to="" the="" Solomon="" Islands="" Li="" Ming="" and="" Solomons="" Prime="" Pinister="" Manasseh="" Sogavare="" cutting="" a="" ribbon="" during="" opening="" ceremony="" of="" China-funded="" national="" stadium="" complex="" in="" Honiara.="" The="" reportedly="" worth="" million="" will="" host="" Pacific="" Games="" for="" first="" time="" island="" state="" people.="" Mavis="" Agence="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/tvpatrol/05/12/solomon-islands-li-ming.jpg"/><figcaption>A photo taken on April 22, 2022 shows China&#x27;s ambassador to the Solomon Islands Li Ming (R), and Solomons Prime Pinister Manasseh Sogavare (L) cutting a ribbon during the opening ceremony of a China-funded national stadium complex in Honiara. The stadium complex, reportedly worth 53 million USD, will host the 2023 Pacific Games for the first time in the island state of 800,000 people. <em>Mavis Podokolo, Agence France-Presse</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>HONIARA, Solomon Islands - The Solomon Islands&#x27; prime minister dismissed criticism of a new maritime investment deal with China on Wednesday, saying there was nothing &quot;sinister&quot; in the draft agreement.</p><p>The new agreement, a copy of which has been leaked to the media, comes after a controversial security pact was signed last month.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/04/01/22/china-solomon-islands-agree-on-security-pact">China, Solomon Islands agree on controversial security pact</a></li></ul>

The Solomon Islands' prime minister dismissed criticism of a new maritime investment deal with China, saying there was nothing 'sinister' in the agreement.