Five million pa'anga marks the PM's first visit to China [1]
Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 20:17. Updated on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 - 18:55.
A $5 million aid grant announced by Chinese President Hu Jintao, to mark the first official visit to China by the Tongan Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele last month, was officially signed in Nuku'alofa yesterday.
The grant of twenty million Renminbi Yuan, the equivalent of Tongan Pa'anga $5 million was announced by President Hu Jintao when Dr Feleti Sevele made a courtesy call on the president in Beijing on April 26.
At the signing ceremony, the Tongan Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele signed for Tonga and His Excellency Hu Yeshun, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Tonga signed for China.
Following the signing ceremony, Dr Sevele said that three quarters of the grant will be spent on road maintenance for Tongatapu, and the rest will be for community projects which are yet to be finalised.
Soft Loan
With regards to a $112 million pa'anga soft loan that the Chinese government agreed to during his visit to China, Dr Feleti Sevele said that the bulk of the loan will be spent on the reconstruction of the infrastructure. Vuna Wharf will also be reconstructed, as well as the Nuku'alofa waterfront area. He said that if there will be a surplus of funds they will rebuild the whole of the greater Nuku'alofa area. The Prime Minister was also confident that the launching date for the reconstruction of Nuku'alofa would be earlier than September 28 that has been announced.
Pacific Forum Meeting
With regards to this year's Pacific Forum meeting, Dr Sevele said that the Forum meeting will start on October 15. He said that 15 Pacific Leaders will attend the Forum, with an estimated 400 visitors.
The Chinese ambassador, HE Hu Yeshun also announced that in addition to the construction of a new conference hall specially for the Forum Meeting, the Chinese governmnet will also provide 20 police motorcycles, 20 cars and a van.