Senior Officials from Solomon Islands and PNG to Convene for High-Level Talks on Border and Movement Agreements
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Collin Beck, recently announced that senior officials from the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea (PNG) will convene this week for a series of discussions aimed at reviewing existing agreements and treaties between the two countries.
The primary focus of the meetings will be on the Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) that govern the bilateral relationship, with a particular emphasis on the border agreement between the Solomon Islands and PNG. Beck highlighted that the two countries maintain constant communication through the Joint Border Committee, which oversees these agreements.
One of the key agreements to be reviewed is the Special Areas Agreement. This agreement facilitates free movement across traditional borders between the Solomon Islands and PNG, across three provinces: Western Province, Shortland Islands, Malaita, Malaita Outer Islands and Choiseul Province.
The governments of both countries have expressed their commitment to reinforcing the bonds of friendship and good-neighborly relations. This commitment is rooted in the historical ties and mutual interests of the two countries. The Treaty concerning Sovereignty, Maritime and Seabed Boundaries, signed in Port Moresby on January 25, 1989, is a cornerstone of this relationship. It emphasised the importance of protecting traditional rights related to movement, fishing and other activities for inhabitants of the Special Areas on either side of the maritime boundary, as stipulated in Article 7 of the treaty.
This week’s meetings aim to ensure that these agreements continue to serve the interests of both countries and their peoples, fostering cooperation and mutual respect in the region.
