The United States has announced it re-opened its embassy in the Solomon Islands last month, 30 years after it was closed.

This move is being seen as shoring up influence in the Pacific to counter China's push into the region.

“[The opening] symbolizes a renewal of our relationship and underlines the strength of our commitment to our bilateral relations, the people of Solomon Islands, and our partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region,” Blinken said in a statement on Thursday.

The US closed its embassy in Honiara in 1993 amid shifting diplomatic priorities.

It announced its intention to reopen the diplomatic mission after it emerged in April 2022 that the Solomon Islands had agreed to a secret security pact with China. The Solomon Islands had switched diplomatic ties to Beijing from self-ruled Taiwan, which China claims as its own, in 2019, a move swiftly followed by Kiribati.

“The opening of the embassy builds on our efforts not only to place more diplomatic personnel throughout the region, but also to engage further with our Pacific neighbors,” Blinken said.

US diplomat Russell Corneau, the interim representative in Honiara, said at the opening ceremony that the embassy would "serve as a key platform" between his government and the Solomons.

Sogavare did not attend the opening ceremony, but foreign affairs secretary Colin Beck said the embassy's reopening was "welcomed by the government and people of the Solomon Islands".

China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Thursday that Beijing was "willing to work with all parties" to help the island nation develop.

"China has no intention of competing with anyone for influence in the Pacific Island region," she said.

Last year, the US convened its first-ever summit of Pacific leaders at the White House, in which the parties committed to economic and infrastructure development, strengthening regional cooperation – with the US promising to deepen ties with the Pacific Islands Forum – maritime security and “the sustainable use of the Pacific Ocean based on the rule of law”.

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