HM King George Tupou V returned to Tonga on Saturday, April 19 after making a seven days state visit to China to reaffirm and strengthen the foreign relations between the two countries.

Hon. Fanetupouvava'u Tu'ivakano, a niece and secretary to the king, said that the king met with the Chinese President HE Mr Hu Jintao in a formal Bilateral Meeting in Sanya, a scenic city in China's southernmost Hainan Province on April 10.

"The king also attended the opening ceremony of the Annual Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) opened by President Hu Jintao in Hainan where we witnessed beautiful fireworks on April 12," she said.

The Boao conference is a high level annual meeting between leaders from Asia and around the world and included the Australian Prime Minister Hon. Kevin Rudd; the President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf; and the President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, among others.

The king also met with the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 14.

Hon. Fanetupouvava'u said Tonga's Ambassador to China 'Emeline Tuita greeted the king and the visiting party in China.

The king was accompanied on the state visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Tu'a Taumoepeau Tupou, Tonga's Honorary Consul to Australia, Louise Waterhouse and Tonga's Honorary Consul to Hong Kong, George Chen.

The king arrived in China on April 10 and departed on April 16.