By Eleanor Gee.

Two Chinese navy ships, the Wuzhishan and the Chaganhu, arrived in Nuku'alofa today with over 1300 tons of restoration and relief items for Tonga, including 500 prefabricated houses.

Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Fekita 'Utoikamanu, joined the Chinese Ambassador to Tonga, HE Cao Xaolin in welcoming the navy ship Wuzhishan as it docked at Vuna Wharf.

The Chinese Embassy said the second navy ship, the Chaganhu, remained out in deeper water as it is too large to come in to Nuku'alofa. The ships sailed across the Pacific Ocean for 16 days before arriving to Tonga.

Along with the 500 prefabricated houses, the ships brought in 30 farm tractors, 30 disc plows, 200 sets of school desks and chairs, 100 walkie talkies, 100 portable generators, 65 portable high pressure water pumps, 50 tents, 30 electric saws, 20 brush cutters, 278 cartons of first-aid packets, 100 cartons of medical protective masks, 500 cartons of disinfectants, 2180 cartons of bottled mineral water, 1667 cartons of biscuits, 1667 cartons of instant noodles, 1500 pieces of disaster relief kits, and 550 tons of desalinated water.

This is the fourth and major batch of relief items donated by the Chinese government to Tonga. China delivered emergency relief food on January 19, 27, and 28 via fishing vessels and two military aircrafts.

The Chinese Embassy said the total value of all these items cost over TOP$12 million. The Chinese government has also provided funds of US$800,000 to the Tongan government.

China Red Cross also provided US$100,000 to the Tongan government and US$400,000 to Tonga Red Cross.

Prime Minister Sovaleni was appreciative of China’s generous assistance.

“It’s been difficult, trying to address the issues about the tsunamis.”

“And getting people relocated and evacuated from the affected islands was difficult enough. But with the restrictions and the lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak, it makes it doubly hard.”

The Prime Minister said with the assistance of partners like China, it had made, “our effort so much easier in terms of addressing not only the pandemic but also the much-needed supplies for the people that were affected by the tsunami".

“Again, on behalf of the government and the people of Tonga, I would like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to the peoples and the government of China for all their assistance, their timely assistance during this very difficult time for the Kingdom of Tonga.”