SOLOMON Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale used his first official visit to Canberra to signal a reset in relations with Australia, saying both countries were committed to rebuilding trust after recent strains.
“It is very obvious that we are friends, we have always been and we will always be friends,” Wale said, reflecting on the long-standing relationship between the two countries.
Speaking alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Wale said the partnership had endured difficulties but remained strong due to deep people-to-people and institutional links.
“There have been difficulties in our relationship in the last few years but because of the strong people-to-people relationship, the strong institutional relationship between our countries, our relationship still remained resilient,” he said.
Wale also described the Canberra welcome as warm and memorable, joking about the weather on arrival.
“There is a saying in my mother tongue, it just means the man who brings a bit of drizzle is your best friend,” he said.
Albanese said both countries had agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship through a new comprehensive treaty based on “mutual trust, respect and open dialogue”.
The proposed treaty will be developed by both countries’ foreign ministers and is expected to guide future cooperation in economic and security areas.
For Wale, the visit marked a clear attempt to reset ties and strengthen long-term confidence between Suva and Canberra’s regional partners.
