Polls are being held under tight security; police say 15 election-related deaths have been recorded so far this year.
Countries such as Vanuatu and Kiribati expected to seek Wang Yi’s support for development and infrastructure.
Leaked document shows China will call for more police, security, and telecom cooperation at upcoming summit with region.
Wang Yi will visit the Solomon Islands this week followed by other Pacific nations.
Officials say the facility will provide crucial income despite causing war and pollution the last time it was open.
Samoan Prime Minister’s decision to skip recent summit is latest evidence of growing mistrust of Beijing.
Nations most vulnerable to climate change say rich world must step up, meet goal to limit temperature rise to 1.5C.
Pacific island nations saw their economies shrink an estimated 5.8 percent in 2020 amid a collapse in tourism.
Fewer than 2 percent of people in Papua New Guinea are vaccinated against the coronavirus as cases mount.
The Pacific nation is reporting more cases amid one of the world’s slowest vaccine rollouts.
PNG to offer asylum seekers who wish to stay a path to citizenship, rights group denounce Australia’s move.
India denies Papua New Guinea claims it allowed COVID-infected passengers to board a flight to Port Moresby.
A cargo ship rescued Afghan asylum seekers stranded at sea near Australia 20 years go, transforming its refugee policy.
Key leaders such as China’s Xi, Russia’s Putin and US’s Biden pledge to redouble the worldwide COVID-19 fight.
