Australia has welcomed the announcement by Solomon Islands' new prime minister that he is committed to a proposal for a submarine internet cable which was announced prior to the overthrow of the previous administration.
Rick Hou made the assurances in a speech to the Solomon Islands people shortly after his election as prime minister earlier this month.
The new cable project which will also connect Papua New Guinea replaces an earlier plan for a Huawei constructed cable between Sydney and Honiara which was strongly opposed by Canberra citing national security concerns over the Chinese telecommunications company's involvement.
Australia's minister for International Development and the Pacific Concetta Fierravanti-Wells spoke with Koroi Hawkins about the project.
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Photo: AFP