| Briefing of Relations between China and Tonga |
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| 2008-07-25 13:23 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the P. R. China |
I. Bilateral Political Relations
China and Tonga established diplomatic relations on November 2, 1998. On November 23 of the same year, China set up its embassy in Tonga and sent ambassadors there. In October 2004, Tongan King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV and Queen paid a visit to China at the invition of President Hu Jintao. Tongan Crown Prince Tupouto'a visited China in June and October 2004. In May 2005, accompanied by Sonatane Toupu, Minister Foreign Affairs, Crown Prince Tupouto'a attended the opening ceremony of Tonga Embassy in China; in August, Queen Mata’aho came to China to attend the 10th anniversary of Beijing World Conference on Women; in September, Tu'ivakano, Tonga Minister of Engineering and Disaster Reduction, came to China to participate in the Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction. In January and March of 2007, Minister of Finance Utoikamanu and Minister Foreign Affairs Tupou visited China respectively; in April, Prime Minister Sevele visited China; in September, Princess Pilolevu visited China in private.
In April 2006, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met the Tongan Prime Minister Sevele during attendance of China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum, and Chinese Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai signed the agreement on assistance of Tonga. In September of the same year, Vice Minister of Commerce Liao Xiaoqi, as the special envoy of President Hu Jintao, attended King Tongan King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV’s funeral.
II. Cooperation in Tourism
In April 2005, a Memorandum of Understanding regarding tourism plan from China to Tonga was singed between China and Tonga, and Tonga officially became a tourist destination of Chinese citizens.
III. Cooperation in Culture
In March 2005, Tian Jin, deputy director of China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, led a delegation to Tonga, investigating the settlement of CCTV-9 in Tonga; In March 2006, the program of CCTV-9 officially broadcast in Tonga.
IV. Cooperation in Education
Since 1999, China began to provide scholarships for Tongan students who study in China. As of in 2007, China has accepted a total of 41 Tongan students through government channels. In 2007/08 academic year, there were a total of 37 students with scholarship studying in China. Since 2003, China has begun to send teachers to Tonga, and now there are two Chinese teachers working in Tonga.
V. Chinese Ambassador to Tonga：Hu Yeshun
Address: Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of Tonga, P.O. Box 877, Vuna Road, Nuku’alofa, Kingdom of Tonga.
Tel:（00676）24554
Fax:（00676）24595
VI. Tongan Ambassador to China：Emeline ’U Tuita （Female）
On May 18, 2005, Tonga held the opening ceremony of Embassy in China. In August, Emeline Tuita, the first ambassador in China, presented the credentials to President Hu Jintao.
Address: Wan Guo Office Building 3211，, Dongzhimen Wai Xiao jie 18, Beijing.
Tel: (010) 84499807
Fax: (010) 84499808 |
