On January 27, 2025, the People's Republic of China (PRC) reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Solomon Islands in development cooperation during the handover of the China-Aid funded National Referral Hospital Comprehensive Medical Centre. PRC Ambassador Cai Weiming highlighted the growing partnership between China and the Solomon Islands, emphasizing the significance of the Belt and Road Initiative as part of this collaboration [21a6b0a1]. This event comes in the wake of the United States' withdrawal from the World Health Organization and the Paris Agreement under former President Donald Trump on January 21, 2025, which has shifted the dynamics of international cooperation in the region [21a6b0a1].
Ambassador Cai underscored China's economic growth target of RMB 130 trillion in 2024 and reiterated the importance of adhering to the one-China principle, international law, and the UN Charter. The year 2025 also marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, events that both China and the Solomon Islands are commemorating together [21a6b0a1]. This development reflects China's ongoing efforts to enhance its influence in the Pacific, particularly in light of increasing geopolitical competition in the region, as seen with the Philippines' recent expansion of its diplomatic missions to strengthen international partnerships [608cf015].