Photo: Supplied The infrastructure project was promised as a gift to Solomon Islands by China in 2019 shortly after Taiwan pre-emptively ended its 36 year-long diplomatic relationship with the Pacific country. About 120 workers from the Chinese contractors CCECC, including engineers and site supervisors, arrived in Solomon Islands last month and completed two weeks in quarantine. The head of the National Hosting Authority's Project Management Unit, Eldon Tepa, said initial work is underway, with a ground-breaking ceremony scheduled for Wednesday. "They've mobilised in terms of they've started to set up sites," he said. "It's two-fold: they're securing the perimeter of the building site by putting up their hoarding and fencing for site safety. That's happening now so I guess you can technically say they have started on time to deliver the works."