The 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China was celebrated in Tonga Wednesday evening, 25 September at the Chinese Embassy Fasi-mo e-Afi, Nuku’alofa, with a reaffirmation of the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.

Guests of honour at the anniversary celebration were HRH Princess Pilolevu and Lord Tuita.

To mark the occasion there was a photographic display of landmarks in China and a speech by the Charge de’affairs of the People’s Republic of China to Tonga, HE Yang Zhaohui, highlighting what the People’s Republic of China had achieved during the past 70 years. The People’s Republic of China was officially proclaimed by Mao Zedong, the Chairman of the Communist Party of China on 1 October 1949, in Tiananmen Square, Beijing.

According to HE Yang Zhaohui, the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 brought to an end more than one hundred years’ of humiliating history when China was invaded and its people enslaved.

He said that during the past 70 years, “China has stood up, grows rich and is becoming strong. . . Now, China has become the second biggest economy in the World, . . .”.

Tonga’s Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Semisi Sika responded to HE Yang Zhaohui’s speech, and conveyed the best wishes from the King and the people of Tonga to the People of the People’s Republic of China for their celebration.

He commented on the continuing good working relationship between the Kingdom of Tonga and the People’s Republic of China since they had established diplomatic relations in 1998.

He expressed his gratitude for China’s assistance to Tonga’s development; and emphasised Tonga’s commitment to China’s One China Policy.