Your Royal Highness, Princess Pilolevu Tuita,
Lord Tuita,
Hon. Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku,
Hon. Lord Speaker Fakafanua,
Hon. Members of His Majesty’s Privy Council,
Hon. Nobles of the Realm,
Hon. Ministers of His Majesty’s Government,
Hon. Members of the Legislative Assembly,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Representatives of the Chinese community,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good evening!
I want to extend my warm welcome to everyone for attending the reception. First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Government and the Chinese Embassy in Tonga, I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to friends from all walks of life who have long been caring about and supporting the development of China-Tonga relationship and promoting exchanges and cooperation between China and Tonga! I am no stranger to Tonga, not to the beautiful sceneries, long history and rich traditions of Tonga. And it is worth mentioning that I personally participated in the Chinese Government's humanitarian assistance action to Tonga when volcano eruption and tsunami hit in January 2022.
On 18th April, I arrived in Tonga to serve as the ninth Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom of Tonga. I am keenly aware of the important responsibilities entrusted on me. I presented my credentials to His Majesty King Tupou VI the very next day, which is a special arrangement and shows the depth of China-Tonga relations.
Over the past month, I have experienced warm welcome from the royal family, government officials, members of the parliament and the people of Tonga, which enhances our mutual understanding and friendship. I am very impressed and inspired by the long lasting friendship and the great potential of cooperation between our two countries, and look forward keenly and confidently to building on the existing good relations.
Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 26 years ago, China-Tonga relations have maintained steadfast momentum, delivered tangible benefits to our two countries and two peoples. China is willing to work with Tonga, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and His Majesty King Tupou VI, to stay true to the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relations, strengthen political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, advance cultural and people-to-people exchanges and jointly elevate the China-Tonga comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development to a new height. I will make relentless efforts for it.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
China and Tonga are both developing countries and members of the Global South, faced with the common task of growing the economy and improving people’s livelihoods. The China-aided Wind Farm Project has just been launched, which is conducive to alleviating Tonga's power shortage and help Tonga to reach the goal of 50% renewable energy of the gross power generation. The Peripheral Area of Mala’ekula Royal Tomb Improvement Project and the Tonga High School Sports Complex Project are well underway. They stand as a vivid testament of practical cooperation between our two countries. At the moment, we are advancing the Chinese modernization on all fronts, promoting high-quality development and shaping new quality productive forces, which will offer more opportunities to Tonga. China will continue to work with Tonga in various fields, based on the principles of mutual respect, equal-footed consultation, win-win cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, to enhance strategic synergy, deepen practical cooperation, jointly respond to climate change and achieve sustainable development.
Friendship, which derives from close contact between the people, holds the key to sound state-to-state relations.Though oceans apart, Friendship between China and Tonga grows from strength to strength. The Agricultural Technical Cooperation Project enriched the variety of vegetables and fruits on the tables of the Tongan people; The Chinese naval hospital Ship Peace Ark visited Tonga several times, providing medical services which was much needed and widely applauded. Here I would like to share a good news with you. The Chinese medical team is to arrive in Tonga soon, and it will reach out to the local communities to provide professional medical services. China always stands ready to work with Tonga to carry forward the traditional friendship, expand cultural exchanges and promote closer people-to-people ties.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests. There is but one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Resolution 2758 adopted at the 26th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 1971 reflects and solemnly reaffirms the one-China principle, which is the fundamental prerequisite and political foundation for China to conduct cooperation with all countries including Tonga. One hundred and eighty-three countries have established diplomatic ties with China, which fully shows that supporting the one-China principle is where the public opinion trends and the arc of history bends, and has become a basic norm governing international relations. Any blatant provocation to UNGA Resolution 2758 and deliberate misinterpretation of the one-China principle is a challenge to the post-World War II international order, which finds no support and is doomed to fail.
I am glad to see that the one-China principle is deeply rooted and becomes consensus in Tonga. Since Day One after the establishment of diplomatic relations, Tonga has firmly committed to the one-China principle. We highly appreciate it and look forward to the continued support from Tonga, including in the upcoming World Health Assembly and the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Building a community with a shared future for mankind is the noble goal pursued by China in conducting major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics for the new era. It is China’s solution to the question of what kind of world to build and how to build it. It complies with the common interest of the Chinese people and the people of the world.The past decade has seen steady progress in implementing the vision of a global community of shared future. From bilateral to multilateral and from regional to global dimensions, ground-breaking results have been achieved. The Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative have taken root and borne fruits, advancing human society towards common development, lasting security and mutual learning between civilizations, bringing tangible benefits to partner countries and regions, including Tonga.
China regards Pacific Island countries as indispensable partners in building a community with a shared future for mankind and always develops its relations with the Pacific Island countries under the principles proposed by President Xi Jinping, namely fully respecting the Pacific Island countries’ sovereignty and independence, and their will, cultural traditions and effort to seek strength through unity. It demonstrated China’s sincerity in moving relations between China and the Pacific Island countries forward and the determination in strengthening solidarity and cooperation with developing countries.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and His Majesty King Tupou VI’s Sixty Fifth birthday, and Tonga will host the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting. These events bring about new and important opportunities for the enhancement of China-Tonga bilateral relations. China is committed to working hand in hand with Tonga to support each other, collaborate in a mutually beneficial way, build a closer China-Tonga community with a shared future and create an even better future for China-Tonga relations.
Thank you very much!
Malo 'aupito!