Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has met Chinese President Xi Jinping, in the Pacific leader's first official visit to China since his Government controversially cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan last month.

Key points:

• Solomon Islands signed an agreement on the Belt and Road Initiative
• The Pacific nation severed its diplomatic relationship with Taiwan last month
• Mr Sogavare said establishing ties with China put it on "the right side of history"

The two leaders signed several agreements, including one about cooperating with Mr Xi's multi-trillion-dollar Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, and others on economic and education strategies.

One of the deals would see Solomon Islands become a destination country for Chinese tourists, according to a report from Chinese state media agency Xinhua, but specific details on the agreements are yet to be made public.

What signing onto the BRI means

"Although the Solomon Islands and China have just established ties, real friendship is not determined by when it starts," Mr Xi said.

The new diplomatic relationship is a sign of China's growing influence in the Pacific and a setback for self-ruled, democratic Taiwan, which China views as a breakaway province.