On 11th May, Professor Yu Zhigang, President of the Oceans University of China (OUC) and Professor Transform Aqorau, Vice–Chancellor of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) through virtual links. H.E. Ambassador Li Ming and Hon. Nestor Ghiro, the Solomon Islands Fishery Minister who was on his China tour witnessed the signing from both Honiara and Qingdao, China.

According to the MOA, the two sides agreed to promote the exchange of students and academic staff, joint research projects on oceans, fisheries and climate change,etc.

H. E. Ambassador Li Ming said that the signed MOA was the first of its kind between the universities of China and SI, which marked a milestone for the educational cooperation between the two countries, and provided new impetus for the bilateral relations .

Professor Aqorau said, “Solomon Islands is at the forefront of the fight against climate change, sea-level rise, and is struggling with meeting its sustainable development needs. We cannot do it on our own as we have limited resources, so we need to develop long-term strategic partnership with other Universities.” He said, “this agreement will help support some of the other initiatives that we are already embarking on to strengthen our capacity to support research to improve the social and economic well-being of our peoples”.