The Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says China will step in to fund a 74 million Australia dollars stadium for the 2023 Pacific Games in place of Taiwan.
He announced the funding on his return from China, a month after Solomon Islands ended diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
Prime Minister Sogavare said the financing would be in the form of a grant.
The Pacific Games is the largest sporting event in the region, with Solomon Islands to host it for the first time in 2023.
China has previously supported Pacific Games events in Fiji and Samoa.
Sogavare said Papua New Guinea would also provide 17 million Australian dollars in funding to support the games preparation while the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia will fund sports facilities.
The Solomon Islands government has come under criticism from civil society groups and the Opposition over the change in diplomatic ties.
The prime minister is expected to face questions from his critics when Parliament reconvenes on November 12, which will be the first time since the change in diplomatic relations..
[Source: Abc.net.au]
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