The government of China has agreed to fund a $55 million sports complex at Tonga High School for the 2019 Pacific Games after signing an implementation agreement with the Tonga government last week.

The Tonga High School Sports Complex will include an indoor gymnasium, one outdoor rugby field, four outdoor netball courts, an aquatics center, a lawn bowling field, and supporting facilities surrounding the sporting venues with a total area of 9,180 square metres.

The agreement, signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for MEIDECC and Foreign Affairs, Hon Siaosi Sovaleni and China’s Ambassador to Tonga, HE Huang Huaguang, means that preparations are finally starting to take shape.

At the signing ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Siaosi Sovaleni was thankful to the Chinese government for their support.

“This is a very important project to the Pacific Games 2019, we would like to thank your delegation and also our senior officials for working tirelessly during the last month also in progressing this agreement that will state today in the signing.”

HE Huang Huaguang said that this is the largest project so far between the two countries.

And both countries agreed that China’s Ministry of Commerce’s International Economic Cooperation will be responsible for organizing, coordinating and managing the implementation of the project.

The sports complex preparatory works are scheduled for August 2017 with construction expected to start in October 2017 and completed by May 2019.

Other works confirmed for the Games include the upgrade of the Teufaiva Stadium, funded through a development initiative by the New Zealand Government. Part one of the proposed works is expected to be completed in June 2017 and part two completed in December 2017.

At this stage, the dates of the Pacific Games in 2019 have not been confirmed.