The Kingdom of Tonga and Romania have established diplomatic relations, Tonga's Permanent Mission to the United Nations announced this week.

The formalization was conducted on Monday, 10 April 2023 at the Permanent Mission of Romania to the United Nations in New York, officiated by Mr. Cornel Feruta, Permanent Representative and Ambassador of Romania to the UN and HE Mr. Viliami Vaʻinga Tōnē for Tonga.

Tonga's Mission stated that Romania is championing action on climate change.

“Climate change is an area that Tonga along with other nations in the Pacific region are vigorously calling on others for their support on.

“The region is pleased with the championing role of Romania, as one of the European countries in the Core Group of countries that played in rallying support for Vanuatu’s draft resolution to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the rights and obligations of States pertaining to climate change, which was recently adopted by consensus at the UN General Assembly.”

Areas of mutual interest for collaboration include digital technology, public servants’ capacity building and sports, said the statement.

Romania

According to Wikipedia: Romania is the largest country in Southeastern Europe and the twelfth-largest in Europe. Located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. Since December 1989, Romania has pursued a policy of strengthening relations with the West in general, more specifically with the United States and the European Union, albeit with limited relations involving the Russian Federation. It joined the NATO on 29 March 2004, the European Union (EU) on 1 January 2007, while it joined the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in 1972, and is a founding member of the World Trade Organization. In the past, recent governments have stated that one of their goals is to strengthen ties with and helping other countries.

Romania has a population of 19 million. It is a secular state and has no state religion. An overwhelming majority of the population identify themselves as Christians. Football is the most popular sport in Romania.