On May 12, a handover ceremony for a Commuter Boat donated by Shandong Province of China to Isabel Province of Solomon Islands was held in Honiara. Ambassador Cai Weiming, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, Minister for Women Cathy Nori, Deputy Director-General Ding Anhui of Qingdao Municipal Foreign Affairs Office and his delegation,Isabel Province Premier Lawrence Hayward, and more than 30 other guests attended the event.

Ambassador Cai stated that this is the beautiful gift from Shandong Province announced during Prime Minister Manele’s visit to Shandong in 2024, reflecting the deepening friendship between Shandong Province and Isabel Province. He expressed hope that the boat would facilitate inter-island transportation and service delivery for communities of Isabel Province. Since the establishment of the sister-province relationship between Shandong and Isabel, the two sides have actively carried out exchanges and cooperation in areas such as academia, education, agriculture, clean energy, and people-to-people exchanges. He expressed hope that the two provinces would continue expanding cooperation and bring greater benefits to their peoples.

Deputy Director-General Ding said that Shandong Province is willing to continue deepening friendship and expanding cooperation with Isabel Province. Prime Minister Manele said the successful partnership demonstrates how provincial engagement and international cooperation can deliver practical development outcomes for communities. He also acknowledged the continued partnership between Solomon Islands and China, describing the donation as an example of friendship translated into practical assistance for people at the provincial level. Premier Hayward also expressed appreciation for Shandong Province’s generous donation,and emphasized that the vessel is more than just a gift; it is a vital lifeline for the province’s transport, economy, and emergency response.