THE Minister for Education and Human Resource Development, Tozen Leokana has highlighted the importance of a peaceful and harmonious co-existence in an increasingly multi-cultural Solomon Islands.
Minister Leokana was delivering the keynote address at the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival held in Honiara on Sunday.
The fest was hosted by the Solomon Islands Chinese Women’s Association and Chung Wah School and saw the attendance of Chinese Embassy officials, Members of the Chinese Community, friends of the Chinese Community, Minister Leokana who was the Guest of Honor and the Minister for Culture and Tourism, Choylin Douglas.
Minister Leokana said Solomon Islands is becoming a multicultural society with a number of people from other countries who have decided to reside, work and do business in Honiara and in the provinces.
“Alongside sustained peace and progress in the development of our country, the need to live in harmony or peaceful coexistence with one another is critically important because we are one people, one country and by working together we can build our society and country further,” he added.
Minister Leokana said Solomon Islands and China acknowledge that education cooperation includes education on cultures and languages, adding that the Mid-Autumn Festival demonstrated person-to-person interactions and cultural exchanged linked to the development of the peoples of Solomon Islands and China.
The Education and Human Resource Minister also took the opportunity to thank the government and people of China for their continuing bilateral assistance to the government and people of Solomon Islands.
He highlighted the Memorandum of Understanding on education between Solomon Islands and China as one of the bilaterial assistances China has provided to Solomon Islands and its people to expand friendship and cooperation and sustain development and social harmony.
Minister Leokana also took the opportunity to congratulate the Chinese Association for their strong participation in building Solomon Islands economy and social structure and wished everyone of them every success in their endeavors and a pleasant Mid-Autumn Festival celebration.
By JIMMY NOLAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
