Vice President Annette Lu completed her journey to Nauru and departed for another diplomatic ally in the region, the Solomon Islands, at 9:30 a.m. on February 1 (5:30 a.m. February 1 Taipei time). This will mark her third stop on a trip taking her to allies in the Pacific region.
The vice president and her delegation arrived at the Honiara International Airport in the Solomon Islands at 10:30 a.m. (7:30 a.m. February 1 Taipei time). After the plane came to a halt on the tarmac, Solomon Islands Chief of Protocol Salana Kalu and ROC (Taiwan) Ambassador to the Solomon Islands George Chan boarded Vice President Lu's plane to welcome her. The vice president was escorted off the plane by Deputy Secretary-General to the President Lin Chia-lung and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Elizabeth Y. F. Chu. Solomon Islands Deputy Prime Minister Fred Fono was waiting on the tarmac to welcome the vice president. In addition to receiving flowers on her arrival, Honiara City Mayor Alfred Maeti and Tenaru School Principal Chris Rabawa presented the vice president with shell necklaces. Betikama School Principal Dedily Masaea also gave Vice President a copper sculpture. Traditional dances were performed in honor of the vice president's arrival. The vice president and her delegation then went to their hotel, where they received an enthusiastic welcome from the public upon their arrival. Many waved ROC flags to welcome the vice president and her delegation.
After a brief rest, the vice president went to the Office of the Governor General to meet with Solomon Islands Governor General Nathaniel Wena. The governor general said the Solomon Islands cherishes the alliance between the two nations and appreciates the long-term assistance provided by the ROC government. He also expressed his good wishes for a successful trip to his nation by the vice president.
Vice President Lu said that members of delegation have expertise in a variety of different fields. Although her trip to the Solomon Islands is short, she sincerely hopes to learn about areas for possible mutual cooperation and exchanges.
The vice president said that there are several objectives behind this trip to three of Taiwan's allies in the Pacific region. First, she is sending President Chen Shui-bian's regards to Taiwan's allies in the region. Also, in her role as a founding member of the Democratic Pacific Union, she hopes to understand various issues and learn about the opportunity to hold a regional conference of the DPU in the Solomon Islands.
At noon, the vice president attended a luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Derek Sikua. The prime minister first made remarks and welcomed the vice president. He said the Solomon Islands and Taiwan have a strong alliance based on the universal values of freedom and democracy shared by both countries. He said that he hopes in the future efforts will continue to be made in trade and agricultural technical cooperation. The Solomon Islands, he said, will continue to support Taiwan's right to participate in the international community.
Vice President Lu then said that after visiting a memorial to American forces, she sensed how much the Solomon Islands and Taiwan are alike and how both have faced a similar history. She noted how Taiwan once was under Japanese colonial rule. During World War II, the Solomon Islands was also occupied by Japan. The islands were bombed by American forces, causing severe casualties. She said the lessons of history tell us that war does not solve problems. Rather, peaceful means are required to resolve problems, she said.
The vice president also offered her congratulations on behalf of President Chen and the 23 million people of Taiwan to Prime Minister Sikua, who recently took office as prime minister. The vice president also expressed her appreciation at remarks made by the prime minister reiterating that the Solomon Islands will always be a friend to Taiwan. Vice President Lu announced that Prime Minister Sikua has arranged to make a state visit to Taiwan in March, adding that she is confident that the prime minister will receive a warm reception from the government and people of Taiwan.
In the afternoon, the vice president traveled to the Office of the Prime Minister to hold a formal meeting with Prime Minister Sikua. The two exchanged opinions on a wide range of topics, including education, medicine and health, road construction and agricultural cooperation.
In the evening, the vice president held a banquet attended by the prime minister, the deputy prime minister, the speaker of the parliament, cabinet members and members of the parliament. The vice president made a short address to the gathering. She said that the people of Taiwan and the Solomon Islands do not share the same skin color, lifestyles are different and the two practice different political systems. However, the indigenous peoples of Taiwan, the Solomon Islands and other Pacific island nations all are said to be Austronesians. Taiwan presently has 13 indigenous tribes and the Solomon Islands has one of the richest cultures among all South Pacific nations, she said.
Lastly, the vice president, on behalf of President Chen, wished her best to Prime Minister Sikua on becoming prime minister and everyone lifted their glasses to toast a long friendship between the two countries.