Tonga and China’s relationship appears to be on a high, according to speakers at a Welcome-back Reception for 64 delegates from the Ministries of Education and Public Enterprises, who recently attended seminars in China with their Chinese counterparts.

The reception was hosted by the Chinese Embassy at their Multi-functional Hall in the Embassy's compound on Friday evening, 31 August.

The Tongan delegates to the seminars said that they had learned a lot and would like to continue to maintain their working relations with their Chinese counterparts.

'Oketi ‘Akau’ola, who spoke on the behalf of the 45 delegates from the Ministry of Education, who spent three weeks in China, said that the training they received was eye-opening, inspiring and empowering.

“We were also introduced to Confucius (a philosopher and a teacher) and the Chinese culture, and our eyes were opened.”

She said they visited four districts to see elementary education reform and she was convinced that such reform could be implemented here in Tonga.

“We were able to learn about the Chinese education system, its success story and its long history. The programme was very informative."

Tevita Hu’akau, the Chief Executive Officer of the Tonga Assets Management Association TAMA thanked the Chinese Government for the opportunity for him and his 18 members delegation to spend one week in China.

“The seminar gave us a lot of new ideas.” Pita said that the TAMA would start working closely with their Chinese counterparts. “During the seminar we shared ideas. We have the same views and needs as they have.”

Ambassador HE Wang Baodong reminded the gathering that this year is the 20^th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between Tonga and China and he said that HM King Tupou VI and President Xi Jinping, the president of the People’s Republic of China, had recently signed Seven Documents, which laid a solid foundation for strategic partnership between the two countries. He said that the Seven Documents included Education and Human Resource development.