Solomon Islands and Vanuatu will this week sign a border treaty defining the coordinates of their respective South Eastern and North Western maritime borders.
The prime minister of Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare is being hosted by his Vanuatu counterpart Charlot Salwai for the occasion which is to take place in Vanuatu's Torba province on Friday.
If signed the treaty would mark the end of 32 years of negotiations and extensive technical groundwork.
This was not only to define the border coordinates but also to consider resource rights given the Exclusive Economic Zones of both countries overlap significantly between Solomon Islands Temotu Province and Vanuatu's Torba.
Koroi Hawkins spoke with the permanent secretary of Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs Joseph Ma'ahanua who is part of the prime ministers delegation in Vanuatu this week about the proposed border treaty.
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Solomon Islands political map with capital Honiara on Guadalcanal. Sovereign country consisting of six major islands in Oceania between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. Photo: Copyright: peterhermesfurian / 123RF Stock Photo