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China is considering a request to fund an extension of the Honiara International airport runway, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele says.
Manele, who has just returned from China, revealed this on Thursday, saying the project was requested by the Solomon Islands government and Beijing is considering it.
Manele said it would enable larger long-haul aircrafts to land at the Honiara International Airport and enhance Solomon Islands' trade with China.
In-Depth Solomons reported that the airport's upgrade and modern terminal buildings have been largely funded by the Japanese government over the last 20 years.
Manele said they had secured a number of trade deals with China during their state visit, the outlet reported.
He said China was Solomon Islands largest trading partner and was rapidly becoming a major infrastructure partner.
"It has the second largest economy in the world and has lifted almost 800 million people out of poverty over the past 40 years," the prime minister was quoted saying.
He added both nations have enjoyed a respectful and productive relationship since establishing diplomatic relations in 2019.
-This article was originally published by In-depth Solomons.