From November 21 to 27, King Tupou VI of Tonga paid a state visit to China. This visit, marking his first return to China in seven years, represents a new milestone in the development of bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Tonga 27 years ago.
During the visit, a series of cooperation documents were signed, including a framework agreement on enhancing the economic partnership between the two countries.
Historical ties: longstanding history of cooperation with Chinese contributions to PICs' development
Over the vast Pacific Ocean, the cooperation between China and Tonga flows like a warm current, bridging the hearts of the peoples of both nations. "In fact, our cooperation and interactions with the island countries have a long history," said Wu Yan, Vice Dean of the School of International Relations at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. "Chinese people joined the construction and development of the island countries very early on."
Despite the geographical distance, friendly exchanges between China and Tonga have a rich history. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1998, high-level exchanges have been frequent. In 2018, the relationship was elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Guangdong: pioneer in cooperation with Tonga
In its cooperation with Tonga, Guangdong Province, leveraging its unique geographical advantages and cultural resources, has become a pioneer.
"Guangdong was one of the earliest to initiate cooperation with Pacific Island Countries (PICs)," Wu Yan pointed out. "We have traditions of sending drama troupes and healthcare teams to the islands, forming long-standing non-governmental exchanges."
Exchanges and cooperation between Guangdong and Tonga are evident across multiple levels. In the cultural field, Guangdong's cultural and artistic troupes have visited Tonga for performances on several occasions, such as in 2011 and 2014. In medical cooperation, Guangdong has organized medical teams to provide services in Tonga.
Local friendly exchanges also play a role. In 2019, Dongguan City in Guangdong Province and the Ha'apai District of Tonga established sister-city relations.
Practical cooperation: projects benefiting people's livelihoods
China-Tonga cooperation has consistently aimed to benefit people's livelihoods. In the medical field, the Chinese hospital ship Silk Road Ark visited Tonga four times, bringing health and well-being to the local population.
"When we were in Tonga, China's Silk Road Ark had just left," Wu Yan shared her observations. "Within a very short period, about three or four days, our Silk Road Ark provided free medical services to over 3,000 Tongan people, which had a very positive impact locally."
In the infrastructure sector, China has assisted in the construction of projects such as the Tongan Government Building, a conference center, and solar power stations. Dongguan City in Guangdong Province has also supported Tongan livelihood projects, including water tank initiatives and a barge for Ha'apai.
Future prospects: focusing on sustainable development
"In future cooperation with PICs, we place great emphasis on sustainable development," Wu Yan emphasized. "We are more focused on the common challenges faced by PICs, such as climate change."
During this meeting of the heads, regarding climate change cooperation, China expressed its willingness to actively align with the 'Tonga Energy Roadmap.' Building on the successful cooperation in assisting Tonga's wind power project, both sides will further expand collaboration in the green and low-carbon fields.
"In fact, the potential for cooperation with the PICs is enormous," Wu Yan believes. "Besides climate cooperation, there is also great potential in the development and utilization of marine resources and in fisheries cooperation."
This is also reflected in the recent meeting. The Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of Tonga, released after the leaders' meeting, stated that both sides are willing to conduct marine cooperation based on equality, mutual trust, mutual benefit, and win-win outcomes.
Both sides agreed to deepen practical marine cooperation in fields including marine observation and forecasting, marine disaster prevention and mitigation, marine ecosystem protection and restoration, marine spatial planning, and the development of the blue economy.
Reporter: Guo Chuhua
Video & Poster: Guo Hongda
Cameraman: Guo Chuhua
Script: Guo Chuhua
Editor: Yuan Zixiang, Ou Xiaoming, James Campion, Shen He
