Christmas was celebrated at the Tongan Embassy in Beijing, China, when the small Tongan community, gathered on Christmas Eve for a church service and an re-enactment of the nativity story performed by Tongan students.

Monalisa Palu reported from Beijing that the evening was attended by the students and their friends from Samoa, Papua New Guinea, and Cuba as well as Tongans who were visiting Beijing, Aleamata Vaha'i, Faka'osifono Valevale, and Angelo and Mele Caprazzano.

Monalisa said that Tongan students in Beijing meet every Sunday at the Embassy for their church service and for two weeks before Christmas Eve they had been practising a special programme.

Penisimani Tonga, a student at the Beijing Language and Culture University said that the event made them feel at home, "especially with everyone re-enacting the Nativity Story."

The evening was organised by 'Asupa Motu'apuaka and Edna Lepa of the Tongan Embassy.