Tonga event marks 90th Anniversary of Chinese People’s Liberation Army [1]
Wednesday, August 2, 2017 - 18:36
China marked the 90th Anniversary of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army with an event at Loumaile Lodge, Nuku'alofa last night, 1 August.
Guests included the Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva, Deputy Prime Minister Hon Siaosi Sovaleni, the Australian High Commissioner HE Andrew Ford, Japanese Ambassador HE Yukio Numata and New Zealand High Commissioner HE Sarah Walsh.
China’s Ambassador to Tonga, HE Wang Baodong, promoted China’s role in maintaining world peace with a national defense policy that he said is defensive in nature.
He also spoke of Tonga and China’s military affiliation and the various activities that both countries have worked together.
“Over the past few years, friendly mil-to-mil interaction has been witnessed with Tongan officials of different levels attending defense exchange forums in China, Chinese military groups visiting Tonga and Chinese soldiers participating in the “Tropic Twilight” on humanitarian aid and disaster response, and the Chinese navy’s “Peace Ark” medical vessel coming to Tonga to provide the local people with medical services,” the ambassador said.
Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Siaosi Sovaleni said that Tonga admired China’s commitment to world peace and stability, He offered Tonga’s support on issues of significance internationally.
“The Tonga-China relations maintain a good momentum of development, in that His Majesty’s Government strictly adheres to China’s core value of the One-China policy and our two countries have made fruitful achievements in personnel training, and cultural exchange, along with high level visits.”
Tonga and China have enjoyed a diplomatic relationship spanning 19 years.