Year-ender: 10 major BRI events in 2019 (9)

China and the Solomon Islands sign MOU on building the Belt and Road

President Xi Jinping meets with Solomon Islands' Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, Oct 9, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

On Sept 10, President Xi Jinping met with the Solomon Islands' Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Beijing, pledging closer cooperation between the two countries.

Xi said the Solomon Islands is located on the southern extension of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

The two countries should take the opportunity of the signing of a memorandum of understanding on building the Belt and Road, align their development strategies and boost cooperation to help improve the Solomon Islands people's livelihood as well as the island country's capability of independent and sustainable development, according to Xi.

China and the Solomon Islands signed a joint communique on Sept 21 on the establishment of diplomatic relations.