The Tonga government has today announced the appointment of Mrs 'Emeline Tuita as its first Ambassador to the People'’s Republic of China.

The government is to establish an Embassy in China in support of the Prince Regent Tupoutoa's new "Look East Policy". The move to establish an embassy follows the receipt on 24 June 2004 of over $35 million pa'anga in technical co-operation from the Bank of China to the Shoreline Group, which is chaired by the Prince Regent Tupouto'a. The Shoreline Group is Tonga's sole electric power supplier and distributor, and also owns the Tongan Communications running a new converged network providing wireless television and telephones for Tonga.

Mrs Tuita said today that she would be looking for a more comprehensive development package for the kingdom.

Mrs Tuita is currently the Chief Operating Officer to the to Shoreline Group of Companies, which she joined in 2001 as a management consultant. She holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of California, and was formerly a Tongan Consul General in San Francisco.

The Prime Minister's Office announced that the appointment was approved by the King in Council, on 23 July 2004.

Previously Tonga had established a Consul General in Beijing, the Hon. Lupepau'u Fusitu'a.