Chinese FM Wang Yi, Tonga's Crown Prince highlight mutual support during meeting

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with Tonga's Crown Prince and Minister for Foreign Affairs Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala in east China's Xiamen City on Wednesday. The latter is in China to attend the third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Conveying Chinese President Xi Jinping's greetings to Tonga's King Tupou VI, Wang highlighted that the 27 years of diplomatic relations between China and Tonga have witnessed sustained, rapid development. Throughout challenges ranging from natural disasters to the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Tonga have consistently stood side by side, embodying the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind through concrete actions, he said. 

Emphasizing China's firm support for Tonga's sovereignty, security and development interests, Wang expressed appreciation for Tonga's adherence to the one-China principle and commitment to advancing bilateral cooperation across sectors in line with the consensus reached by the two heads of state.

Wang noted that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-Tonga cooperation has expanded comprehensively from central to local governments and from economic to cultural domains, with the Belt and Road Initiative serving as a key driver for bilateral relations. 

China will remain a trustworthy long-term partner, he affirmed, underscoring mutual respect for equal statehood regardless of size. He welcomed Tonga's enhanced participation in international affairs, praising its consistent support for China's positions in multilateral settings, and stressed the commitment to advancing genuine multilateralism together with the Global South nations against unilateralism and protectionism.

In response, the Crown Prince conveyed King Tupou VI's sincere greetings to President Xi, expressing gratitude for China's timely assistance during Tonga's volcanic eruption and pandemic challenges. 

He noted the remarkable progress in bilateral relations that significantly improved Tongan people's livelihoods, highlighting his recent visit to east China's Shandong Province, which deepened his understanding of Confucian philosophy. 

Reaffirming Tonga's unwavering one-China stance, he proposed enhanced cooperation in medical services, education and climate change response, while voicing full confidence in the success of the foreign ministers' meeting.