Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Pacific keader’s first official visit to China after controversially cutting diplomatic ties with Taiwan last month.
The leaders signed several agreements including one regarding China’s multi-trillian dollar Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.
Mr Xi says "Although the Solomon Islands and China have just established ties, real friendship is not determined by when it starts,"
The new diplomatic relationship is a sign of China’s growing influence in the Pacific.