Tonga reaffirms its relations with China [1]
Monday, October 1, 2012 - 22:39. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
Tonga's King, Queen and Crown Prince attended a reception in Tonga for the 63rd anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China on September 28.
The reception at the International Dateline Hotel was hosted by the Chinese Ambassador to Tonga, HE Mr Wang Donghua who said that since they established diplomatic relations in 1998, China and Tonga had become true friends and important partners.
"This year is a year of harvest for the mutually beneficial cooperation between our two countries," he said. Development assistance from China had included the completion and the hand-over of the reconstruction of the Nuku'alofa CBD, the success of agro-technical projects in both Tongatapu and Vava'u, and the rebuilding of the Vaipua Bridge in Vava'u expected to be completed next month.
He said that the first group of Chinese medical experts had recently completed its mission to Tonga and another group was coming. China had also donated a CT scanner, the first of its kind in Tonga. "It will save Tongan people a huge amount of money that they have to spend on CT check-ups and their trips overseas every year."
The Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Samiu Vaipulu responded that the Tonga-China diplomatic relations had grown from strength to strength. "The Government of Tonga supports China's core values with the reaffirmation of its recognition of the One-China Policy, and our joint undertaking not to interfere in each other's internal affairs".
He said that the Tonga government highly appreciated the Chinese government for "the handover and completion in August of the Nuku'alofa Central Business District Project.
"Tonga now boasts a vibrant Chinese community who, apart from adding to Tonga's social and economic development, has also contributed to the close ties between the Tonga and China."
He said that traveling by government officials between the two countries had been made easier with the introduction of a visa waiver policy by the Tongan government.
HM King Tupou VI, HM Queen Nanasipau'u and Crown Prince 'Ulukalala were guests of honour at the reception.