Senior Solomon Islands government officials held talks with Papua New Guinea government officials.

Senior government officials from Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea attended the 14th^day Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) and 9^day The Joint Border Commission (JBC) meeting was held on the 29th in Kimbe, West New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea.^day Up to 30^day May 2024.

His Excellency William Soaki, Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, was part of the delegation.

The Last Solomon Islands-Papua New Guinea 13^day SOM will be held in Honiara in 2023, 8^day The JBC was held in Gizo in 2019.

Senior officials discussed strengthening cooperation on justice, higher education, air services agreements, search and rescue, trade and economic cooperation, annual ministerial consultations and sub-regional issues including the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

From left: Hilary Papua New Guinea High Commissioner His Excellency William Soaki, Papua New Guinea Minister of Foreign Affairs (Head of the Papua New Guinea Delegation) Mr. Elias Wohengu, Hilary Papua New Guinea Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Trade (Head of the Hilary Papua New Guinea Delegation) Mr. Collin Beck, H.E. Moses.

At the Joint Border Committee, the two sides discussed issues of common concern along the maritime border, including immigration, customs, biosecurity, police, search and rescue, air services agreement and traditional border crossers.

The two sides agreed to complete a review of the key bilateral border framework later this year.

Bilateral talks provide a platform to ensure effective coordination between the two countries on pressing issues of mutual concern.

The Solomon Islands will host the next SOM and JBC in the first quarter of 2025.

The Solomon Islands delegation was led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Colin Baker, and included representatives from the Ministry of Police, the Department of National Security and Correctional Services, the Department of Customs and Excise, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.

-MFAET Press Release