China and Tonga vow to further strengthen cooperation Featured
12 January, 2020. A Chinese parliamentary delegation, led by Ding Zhongli, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), visited the South Pacific island country of Tonga on Jan. 8-11, seeking ways to strengthen the bilateral relations, in particular the parliamentary cooperation, between the two countries.
During his stay in Tonga, Ding met with Tongan Prime Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Lord Fakafanua.
Ding said that Tonga is China's good friend and good partner in the Pacific region. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 22 years ago, the two countries have enjoyed a good relationship, an increasingly enhanced mutual political trust, pragmatic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.
China highly appreciates Tonga's firm adherence to the one-China policy, he said, adding that China is willing to better integrate the building of the Belt and Road Initiative with Tonga's development strategies.
Ding also expressed China's willingness to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Tonga in the fields such as legislative institutions, science and technology as well as basic research, aiming to push forward the bilateral ties to a new high and bring benefits to the two peoples.
Ding also briefed them on the great achievements China has made over the past 70 years.
For the Tongan part, they spoke highly of China's achievements over the past 70 years, reaffirming their continuously upholding of the one-China policy.
While thanking China for its support and assistance to the island country's economic and social development over the past years, Tonga also appreciated the leading role China has played in dealing with global climate change.
Tonga also voiced its active participation in building the Belt and Road Initiative, and is willing to help further develop the relations between China and the Pacific island countries.
