Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare confirmed during Hayashi's visit to the Pacific island nation that they would enhance their cooperation to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Hayashi is the first Japanese foreign minister to visit the Solomon Islands. Japan is seeking to counter China through such measures as financial support as Beijing tries to increase its influence over the Solomon Islands.
Hayashi and Sogavare discussed a security cooperation agreement concluded between the Solomon Islands and China in April last year. Hayashi told Sogavare that Japan was "closely watching" the agreement.
The foreign minister also said Japan will enhance its support for the Solomon Islands on measures against climate change.
Hayashi called for understanding of Japan's plan to discharge treated water from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, a matter of great significance to Pacific island nations. The discharge will do no harm to the environment or human health, he said.
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