The Vendémiaire, a surveillance frigate of the French Navy from Noumea was in Nuku’alofa this week on a goodwill visit that included conducting joint training exercises with the Tonga Navy. They also donated French reading books to the French Learning Centre.

Young students who are learning French, parents and committee members of the learning centre known as the Alliance Francaise de Tonga and French volunteers presented Tongan gifts to the Captain Commander Phillippe Guyon and performed songs on board the frigate in appreciation of their donation, on 5 September.

The French language story books for children were donated by families of the military personnel in Noumea.

While in Nuku'alofa, the frigate with 95 crew carried out training exercises with Tonga Navy.

The Vendemiaire arrived in Nuku'alofa from New Zealand on Saturday, 3 September and departed for Fiji yesterday, 6 September.