Results for Foreign Affairs

Bilateral relations between the Governments of Tonga and India were strengthened in a meeting between the Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Government of Tonga, Hon. S. Tu'a Taumoepeau Tupou and the High Commissioner of the Government of India to London, His Excellency Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, at India House in London on Friday 25 May 2007. The meeting confirmed opportunities for further development cooperation between the two countries.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Tongan Prime Minister Dr Feleti Sevele held talks here on Thursday, pledging to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, fishing, tourism and human resources.

The Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China, HE Mr Li Zhaoxing will arrive in Tonga tomorrow afternoon, August 2.

The new German Ambassador to Tonga HE Mr Jorg Hans Zimmermann made his first official visit to the kingdom on May 1.

FROM OUR ARCHIVES, 2006: "I am both delighted and sad to welcome you all to this final ceremony at the British High Commission before we formally close at the end of March,[2006]" said HE Paul Nessling, the British High Commissioner to Tonga, on the lawn of the British Residence on the evening of 2 March, 2006. Prince Regent Crown Prince Tupouto'a attended the closure of the 105 year old British diplomatic mission. TheTonga Defence Services fired a three volley salute before the Union Jack was formally lowered to the sound of the lament. Photos by Pesi Fonua.

Tonga's leadership is committed to progress but Tonga faces hard choices for the future, and the real question is, "whether the People of Tonga will rise to the challenge and ride this wave of progress," said the British High Commissioner to Tonga, Mr Paul Nessling, on June 9.

Two major aid donors Australia and New Zealand, joined with Tonga in the first Three-way Aid consultations this week to co-ordinate their ongoing aid efforts.

Tonga hopes to complete its accession process to the World Trade Organisation WTO by the end of the year, announced Tonga's Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Cecil Cocker on January 19 at the Prime Minister's office, Nuku'alofa during the signing of a bilateral Market Access Agreement between Tonga and the People's Republic of China.

Tonga may not be in the good books of the USA with regards to its human rights record, but it is definitely a treasured partner of the USA in its war against terrorism.