China is opening up and is keen to establish a good working relationship with the South Pacific region, according to Mr He Yafei, who visited Tonga last week.

He is the Director General of the Department of Foreign Affairs for North American and Oceanic Affairs, for the People's Republic of China.

Mr He said that most of his work centred on Canada and the USA, and also Australia and New Zealand, but annually he also visited Oceania. He said that China was opening up and was keen to establish a good working relation with the region.

To mark the occasion of Mr He's two-night visit to Tonga, the Chinese Ambassador to Tonga, HE Mr Gao Shanhai hosted a dinner at the Janful International Dateline Hotel, on October 15. The guests of Honour were Prince Tu'ipelehake and Princess Kaimana.