Viet Nam, Solomon Islands sign MoU to spur cooperation
VGP - Viet Nam and the Solomon Islands signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Cooperation Framework between their governments on November 11 in Ha Noi, marking a new milestone in bilateral relations.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) hosts reception for Solomon Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Peter Shanel Agovaka in Ha Noi, November 11, 2025 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on November 11 hosted a reception for Solomon Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Peter Shanel Agovaka, who is on a three-day official visit to Viet Nam.
Welcoming Minister Agovaka's first official visit to Viet Nam — the highest-level delegation exchange between the two nations since establishing diplomatic ties in 1996 — Prime Minister Pham expressed confidence that the visit will usher in a new, dynamic, and substantive phase in bilateral cooperation.
The Vietnamese leader recalled the positive results of his meeting with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele on June 9 on the sidelines of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3) in Nice, France.
He suggested the two countries step up high-level and all-level visits, establish consultation mechanisms between relevant ministries, and promote people-to-people exchanges to enhance mutual understanding. The Prime Minister also welcomed Prime Minister Manele's plan to visit Viet Nam in the near future.
Pham stressed that Viet Nam and the Solomon Islands should expand collaboration in trade, education, healthcare, and transport infrastructure, while encouraging businesses to invest in areas of mutual interest such as agriculture, maritime and fisheries cooperation, and renewable energy.
The Prime Minister announced that Viet Nam would soon send a delegation to explore investment opportunities in the Solomon Islands, particularly in the domains of fishing, seafood processing, and export activities.
He also proposed that the two sides sign agreements to facilitate travel between their citizens, starting with a visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic and official passports, and work toward expanding flight connections between Viet Nam and Pacific island nations.
Minister Agovaka hailed the signing of the MoU on the Cooperation Framework as a significant foundation for expanding collaboration in promising sectors. He called for Viet Nam's support in human resource training and technical development in fisheries and agriculture.
Agovaka expressed interest in importing rice and raw materials from Viet Nam, and affirmed his commitment to facilitating Vietnamese investment in potential projects in the Solomon Islands.
Both sides agreed to enhance coordination and mutual support in regional and international forums, particularly at the United Nations, and to contribute to effective and substantive cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) for the sustainable development of both regions./.
