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🇳🇿 New Zealand /Culture & Society

Solomon Islands and US agree to restore Peace Corps programme

From RNZ Pacific · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Solomon Islands and the United States signed an agreement to restore the Peace Corps programme after more than 20 years.
  • More than 700 Americans served in Solomon Islands over nearly three decades before ethnic tensions led to the programme's suspension around 2000.
  • The renewed programme will support communities and strengthen capacity in schools and health services.

The Peace Corps is set to return to Solomon Islands after more than 20 years, reviving a programme that once placed American volunteers in communities and rural villages across the country.

Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Rick Houenipwela signed the renewal agreement in Honiara with visiting US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. The programme had sent more than 700 Americans to Solomon Islands over nearly three decades before ethnic tensions around 2000 led to its suspension.

The return of the Peace Corps will revive fond memories of that partnership and further strengthen cooperation between our two countries.

· Mathew WaleThe Solomon Islands prime minister described the significance of restoring the volunteer programme.

The restored Peace Corps Volunteers programme is expected to support Solomon Islands' development priorities, including work with communities and efforts to strengthen schools and health services. Prime Minister Mathew Wale recalled the volunteers' earlier work in education, health and sports during the 1990s.

"The return of the Peace Corps will revive fond memories of that partnership and further strengthen cooperation between our two countries," Wale said. He and Landau also discussed Solomon Islands' economic development priorities and areas of potential US support. Landau reaffirmed the US commitment to working with Solomon Islands "to advance stability, prosperity, and people-centred development in the region".

to advance stability, prosperity, and people-centred development in the region

· Christopher LandauThe US deputy secretary of state reaffirmed Washington's commitment to cooperation with Solomon Islands.
About this summary

Originally published by RNZ Pacific in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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