THE Tongan government has offered its continued support to China, including support of issues important to China in international forums of which Tonga is a member the Acting Prime Minister, said last night.

In celebrating the 62nd Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at a reception in Nuku'alofa on September 29, the Acting Prime Minister Hon Samiu Vaipulu indicated that Tonga was prepared to vote the way China wants it to in international affairs.

In his address he said that Tonga offered China its continued support through promoting at every opportunity the strong ties between the two countries, "and the Kingdom's support of issues important to China at every opportunity at international forums of which Tonga is a member."

The reception held at the Janfull International Dateline Hotel was attended by guest of honour Hon Fanetupouvava'u Tu'ivakano and her husband Lt. Kiu Kaho Tu'ivakano, the Chinese Ambassador in Tonga HE Mr Wang Donghua, foreign diplomats and members of the Chinese community and Chinese workers in Tonga.

Relations

The Acting Prime Minister said that in 1998 Tonga and China had formalized relations, a vision of the late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV and the Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

"Thirteen years on we have witnessed the progress of the development of diplomatic relations and enhanced cooperation between our two countries," he said.

Tonga continued to support China's core values such as the reaffirmation of its recognition of the one-China policy and their joint undertaking not to interfere in each other's internal affairs, he said, "These are the important tenets of our relations as they reinforce the principles of mutual respect for each other's sovereignty."

Hon Vailpulu said that Tonga was grateful for China's assistance in the construction of the Vava'u Bridge, the second phase of the road projects, and the second phase of the agriculture cooperation projects.

He said Tonga had adopted a "Look East policy", as Tonga undergoes economic and public sector reform and was seeking commercial investment in the tourism and aviation sectors through Tonga's Embassy in Beijing. .

"Tonga has benefited immensely from China's responsive program of economic and technical cooperation that focuses on national development priority areas, which includes economic, development, the reconstruction of Nuku'alofa, health, defence, education and key infrastructure."

China

The Chinese Ambassador HE Wang Donghua said that since 1998 China and Tonga had enjoyed good bilateral relations and maintained close communication in international affairs and this year had seen new progress in that relationship, during a visit by HM King George Tupou V to China in January.

"His Majesty the King and HE Mr Xi Jinping, the Vice-President of China had fruitful talks in Beijing on a variety of issues of our common concern and reached consensus on the renewed efforts to further promote the relationship and cooperation between our two countries," he said.

China was ready to lift the relationship with its Tongan friends to a new high, he said.