Current overall friendly relations and cooperation between China and Tonga Featured
H.E. Ambassador Cao Xiaolin
Speech at the Media Conference in the Chinese Embassy
by H.E. Ambassador Cao Xiaolin
(28th June, 2022)
Mrs. Mele Bloomfield, President of Media Association Tonga,
Members of the Tonga Media Association,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning.
Thank you for joining us in the embassy today for the media conference. There are several reasons for us to have such a media briefing.
First, I haven’t seen some of you for a long time since the outbreak of the pandemic when we had a media briefing in the Embassy two years ago. The Embassy wishes to maintain a close working relationship with the Tonga media association.
Second, It’s time for the Embassy to let you know the current overall friendly relations and cooperation between China and Tonga, especially the outcomes of the visit by the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister H.E. Wang Yi four weeks ago and some other progress that has been made in the bilateral cooperation which, I think, our media friends are much interested in.
Third, It will be the 101st anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on this Friday, 1st July. Around this time last year, the Chinese Embassy held a big reception to mark the 100th anniversary of the CPC. Here, I would like to remind my colleagues from the Media Association that if you want to know more about China, especially the code of success for China’s national development over the past decades, you have to learn more about the history and stories of the CPC.
The number one secrete of China’s success is that China has found a development path of socialism with the Chinese characteristics under the leadership of the CPC. The CPC will hold its 20th Congress before the end of this year to draw the blueprint for China’s national development over the next five years. This is the most significant event in China and will draw the attention of world media. Besides, when you want to know more about Tonga-China relationship, it’s better for you to learn more about the CPC, because China’s diplomacy is under the leadership of the CPC.
A Brief Review of China-Tonga Relationship in 2022
Since the beginning of this year, the bilateral relationship between China and Tonga has witnessed many major events and rapid progress. Early this year when Tonga suffered the quadruple challenges of the volcanic eruption, the tsunami, the communication disconnection and the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, China provided emergency supplies to the Tongan Government and the Tongan people through various channels.
From 31st May to 1st June, the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid a very successful visit to Tonga. He had a very cordial audience with His Majesty King Tupou VI, and had very fruitful meetings with Hon. Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku and Hon. Foreign Minister 'Utoikamanu. Through the visit, China and Tonga reached many new important understandings and consensuses on deepening the bilateral cooperation in various fields, which has proved that China-Tonga relationship is very resilient and this relationship is at its best time.
Some disinformation on China-Tonga Relationship
At the same time, there are some irresponsible words and irrational attitudes toward China-Tonga friendly relations and cooperation. As journalists, you may sometimes find yourself being short of reliable sources of true information because there is so much fake news in media. I hope that our communication today will help you have an objective understanding on the current China-Tonga relations.
How should we view China-Tonga relationship? I have been working on and following the China-Tonga relationship for more than 20 years. Let me tell you from three perspective.
China-Tonga Relationship from three Perspectives
The first Perspective, our relationship is in the fundamental and long-term interests of the Chinese people and the Tongan people.
We have a definition of our bilateral relationship, that is, the comprehensive and strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development between China and Tonga.
If you know the history of China-Tonga diplomatic relations, it is very easy for us to understand that the key factor behind the China-Tonga relationship is that our leaders have played a very decisive role, especially over the past ten years, Chinese President Xi Jinping and His Majesty King Tupou VI have steered the direction for the bilateral relations.
The sound and stable development of China-Tonga relations is full of vitality.
It is His Majesty King Tupou VI, when he was the foreign minister in 1998, who signed the joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Tonga. Over the 24 years since then, His Majesty has been an important contributor and strong advocate to the development of our bilateral relations.
In 2014 and 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping held two collective meetings with leaders of Pacific Island Countries that have diplomatic relations with China, including Tong. The collective meetings upgraded the bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development, and opened a new chapter in the history of China-Tonga relations.
In 2018, His Majesty paid a successful state visit to China. President Xi Jinping held talks with His Majesty. In September last year, the two heads of state made a successful telephone call. President Xi Jinping and His Majesty reached many consensuses on the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Tonga, and set the course for the further development of China-Tonga bilateral ties.
Under the guidance from our heads of state, China-Tonga relations have maintained a steady and sound momentum of development. After Tonga was hit by the volcanic eruption in January this year, President Xi Jinping sent a timely message of condolences to His Majesty to express China’s firm commitment of support to Tonga at that challenging time.
Various departments in China raced against time to mobilize and deliver relief supplies to Tonga. With a very quick response, China provided more than TOP$10 million worth of relief supplies, including cash, drinkable water, food, portable rooms, farm tractors and so on. China also provided over TOP$26 million worth of heavy machinery to Tonga for its national recovery efforts in February this year. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has provided many batches of emergency supplies to Tonga, which has further enhanced the friendship between the two countries.
The Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the purpose of his visit to Tonga is to implement the important consensus between President Xi Jinping and His Majesty, strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, expand cooperation, and promote China-Tonga comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level.
Mutual respect is the bedrock of China-Tonga bilateral relationship.
I know that Tonga has a diplomatic principle, that is, “friends to all, but enemy to none”. It’s same to China. China always respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Tonga and the other Pacific Island Countries, respects their people's exploration of development paths suited to their national conditions, and does not interfere in Pacific Island Countries' internal affairs. China stands firmly with Pacific Island Countries on their concerns such as national sovereignty and security, climate change, maritime rights and interests, and sustainable development.
Both China and Tonga are developing countries, and share broad consensuses, similar concerns and common missions in the regional and international affairs. China used to and will always respect Tonga's unique national conditions, support Tonga in safeguarding its independence, sovereignty and social stability.
His Majesty King Tupou VI said at the audience with the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, that Tonga and China have witnessed vigorous development of the ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations. His Majesty reaffirmed his firm commitment to the one-China policy and the promotion of a better development of bilateral ties.
Facts have proved that mutual respect between China and Tonga has been in line with the trend of the times and has linked our two peoples more closely.
Common development is the goal for China-Tonga pragmatic cooperation.
China has always adhered to a diplomatic vision that all countries, big or small, are equal, and long advocated that no one should be left behind in achieving the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Under the above-mentioned vision, China and Tonga have achieved fruitful cooperation results in trade, infrastructure, clean energy, agriculture, health, education, etc. China has supported Tonga to enhance its capacity on economic and social development. In infrastructure, China has helped build St. George government building, the Fa’onelua Conference Center, Tonga high school, Ha’apai high school and the sidewalks in Tongatapu in order to improve infrastructural conditions.
China has also helped optimize Tonga’s energy structure to achieve the goal of clean energy with investment in solar power stations and grant aid of wind power projects. China-Tonga cooperation in agriculture has significantly helped enrich Tonga's food varieties with a healthier people's dietary and a better food security, and China will continue to support Tongan small enterprises exporting products to overseas markets.
During Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit, China and Tonga reached new broad consensuses on deepening practical bilateral cooperation, working to address climate change, promoting diversified development, and joining hands in the development of the ocean.
In order to implement the goal of common development, the Chinese diplomats in Tonga have racked their brains finding ways to enhance the Tongan people’s capacity for independent development.
The Embassy sponsored more than 100 small projects to the Tongan families and communities over the past two years, such as raising pigs, chickens, providing water tanks, fishing boats, doing business, and so on. I invite two of them to tell their stories how they benefited from the Embassy sponsorship.
The Chinese community is the biggest ethnic group in Tonga. Their businesses have become an integral part of the daily life of the Tongan people. The Chinese, the Chinese Tongans and the Tongans have been getting on well with each other. The Chinese community loves Tonga, and regards Tonga as their second homeland. They donated money to the Tongan government and provided emergency supplies to the Tongan people in response to the volcanic eruption and the Covid-19 pandemic. This is an example that China and Tonga are closely connected with each other.
At the meeting between the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi’ and the Tongan Foreign Minister 'Utoikamanu, Hon. 'Utoikamanu quoted an ancient Chinese poem, "A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near", and reaffirmed that Tonga will always be an "island of friendship" for China, which is very impressive to the Chinese delegation. To echo Hon. 'Utoikamanu, Minister Wang Yi also cited two lines from an ancient Chinese poem, "A long journey proves the stamina of a horse, and the passage of time tells the friendship of people" This is the true and indeed friendship that our two countries share, and it’s a future-oriented relationship that time will tell.
The Second Perspective. China-Tonga bilateral cooperation has borne and will bear more fruits for win-win results.
Tonga will get more tangible benefits from the six new cooperation platforms initiated by China.
Last September, at the phone conversation with His Majesty, President Xi Jinping said that China will set up three platforms to enhance cooperation between China and Pacific Island Countries, that is, a cooperation center for poverty reduction and development, a cooperation center on climate change and an Emergency Supplies Reserve. I am very happy to say that the Reserve of Emergency Supplies was officially put into use in December last year, and the cooperation center for climate change was launched in April this year.
Actually, the Reserve of Emergency Supplies has played an active role in helping Tonga's reconstruction in the wake of the volcanic eruption, the tsunami and the epidemic. China is ready to establish a sub-reserve in a Pacific Island country through consultation in the future.
During the visit, Minister Wang told His Majesty and Hon. Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku that China will set up another three platforms specifically for Pacific Island countries, that is, the Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Cooperation Center, the Demonstration Center for Agricultural Cooperation, and the Juncao Technology Demonstration Center. By the way, Juncao is a hybrid grass and an important muti-functional agricultural resources. Through all these six platforms, China will train professionals, provide technical support, and offer necessary financial assistance for Tonga in the future. His Majesty and the Prime Minister spoke highly and positively of these cooperation platforms.
China stands ready to strength the alignment of development strategies with Tonga.
China has achieved poverty reduction target of the UN 2030 Agenda ten years ahead of schedule. China’s experience can be shared with Tonga. More measures will be taken to achieve this goal through bilateral cooperation.
Last September, President Xi proposed the Global Development Initiative(GDI) at the UN General Assembly. During the visit to Tonga, Minister Wang told His Majesty that China highly appreciates the active support from Tonga on China's Global Development Initiatives.
We all know that Tonga has its HTHH Disaster Recovery and Resilience Building Plan 2022-2025 in the wake of the volcanic eruption, and the new Government has just got the biggest budget in history passed by the Parliament two weeks ago, which will chart policy priorities of the Tongan Government.
China wishes to work with Tonga to form a better synergy and coordination of the Belt and Roal Initiative(BRI), GDI and Tonga’s development plan.
China stands ready to firmly fulfill its commitment to Tonga on development.
In health cooperation, China has sent four medical teams, with a total of 37 doctors to work in Tonga. They traveled to the outer islands and delivered medical services to hundreds of families. After the outbreak of COVID-19, the Chinese government has provided PPE worth RMB¥2 million (around TOP$700,000) and US$450,000 in cash through the China-Pacific Island Countries Joint COVID-19 Response Fund to Tonga for fighting the pandemic. China will provide another US$200,000 in cash to the Tongan Government for fighting Covid-19 as an outcome of the visit by State Councilor Wang Yi.
In 2016, China and Tonga signed the agreement on mutual visa exemption,making people-to-people exchanges more convenient. In 2018, China and Tonga signed the MOU on Educational Exchange and Cooperation assisting Tonga to cultivate its talents. Up to the end of last year, China had offered government scholarships to around 300 Tongan students, and provided various training programs to nearly 1,200 Tongan government officials and people. The Ministry of Education of China and Liaocheng University have dispatched 16 teachers to Tonga to teach Chinese language and agricultural practice courses over the past years.
Immediately after the volcanic eruption early this year, the Chinese Embassy purchased food, water and some other emergency supplies, and handed them over to the Tongan government. This was the first batch of assistance received by the Tongan Government after the volcanic eruption. Based on the needs from the Tongan government, China sent military aircraft and naval ships with emergency items including farm tractors, portable rooms, generators and tents, etc. to Tonga.
During his visit, Minister Wang Yi and Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku signed a batch of bilateral cooperation documents.
Let me give you some more information on our cooperation.
The Chinese government will provide Non-intrusive Imaging Inspection Equipment and Special Fingerprint Examination Equipment to enhance the border monitoring and Crime-Fighting capacity of Tonga. And the Non-intrusive Imaging Inspection Equipment is here in Tonga now.
The MOU signed by Chinese State Councilor and Hon. Hu’akavameiliku on Deepening Blue Economy will help Tonga to carry out the Strategic Development Framework 2015-2025 and Ocean Management Plan to develop a maritime community with a shared future.
China will speed up the China-aid projects, such as the Wind Power Electricity Generation Project and Tonga High School Sports Complex Project.
The government of Dongguan City, Guangdong province of China will provide farm tractors, boat engines, water tanks, vehicles for the Fire and Emergency Service and Rapid Antigen Tests(RATs) to Tonga.
Only in this year until now, 70 farm tractors have been handed over from China to the Tongan Government.
For a long time, some media have misinterpreted the preferential loans from China to Tonga. They fabricated the so-called Chinese “debt trap” in malicious intentions to defame and smear China and disrupt China’s cooperation with Tonga.
The preferential loans from the EXIM bank of China were requested by the then Tongan Government. In facts, the projects under the preferential loans have helped the economic and social development of Tonga.
When we look back, we can see that the Tongan Government and the Tongan people have benefited from the preferential loans to go through the hardships at that time, say, the global financial crisis and some other challenges.
It is good news that the Tongan government has started to repay the preferential loans this year, which indicates a healthy status of Tonga's fiscal and economic system, and has sent a positive signal to the international community. It will help maintain Tonga’s responsible good images and reduce the cost of international financing.
Once again, I would like to stress that the Chinese preferential loans have no political strings attached. China fully respects the will of the recipient countries, and will never push the recipient countries on repaying the loans.
The Third Prospective, our bilateral cooperation is oriented for a China-Pacific community for a shared future.
When China develops friendly relations with Pacific Island Countries, China stays committed to equality of all countries regardless of size, uphold justice while pursuing shared interests, and follows the principle of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith.
The visit by the Chinese leader, H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, to Tonga and the Pacific Island region is a historic diplomacy. It speaks volumes about the commitments of china to the mutually beneficial cooperation with the Pacific Island Counties. The success of this visit can be attributed to China’s foreign policies towards the Pacific Island countries.
China treats the Pacific Island countries as equals. It is China's consistent stance that all countries, big or small, are equal. China regards the Pacific Islands countries as an important part of South-South cooperation and an important partner in building a community with a shared future for mankind.
China respects the Pacific Islands countries. China always respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pacific Islands countries.When China conducts exchanges and cooperation with the Pacific Islands countries, China has never interfered in the internal affairs of Pacific Islands countries, never attached any political strings, and never sought any geopolitical self-interest.
China engages win-win cooperation with the Pacific Islands countries. China stays committed to deepening pragmatic cooperation with the Pacific Islands countries in various fields and sincerely helping the Pacific Islands countries develop economies, improve people's well-being and enhance the capacity for self-driven development, and shares the dividends of China's development with the Pacific Islands countries’ people.
China upholds openness and inclusiveness in its policy towards the Pacific Islands countries. China maintains that Pacific Islands region should be a stage for cooperation, rather than an arena for vicious competition. China's cooperation with Pacific Islands countries doesn't target any third country, and it will not be disrupted by any country, either. At the same time, China respects the various ties that the Pacific Islands countries have established with other countries, and are open-minded about carrying out more tripartite cooperation with other countries inside and outside the region.
As true friends, China and the Pacific Island countries have a tradition of mutual support and assistance. And such gestures of goodwill are underpinned by the principle of mutual respect. For decades, what China has been doing is always based on the need, proposal and consent of regional countries.
China-Solomon Islands Security Cooperation
On the bilateral security framework agreement between China and the Solomon Islands, the Solomon Islands is an independent sovereign state and has the right to sign bilateral agreements with other countries. This is fully consistent with international law and norms in state-to-state relations.
If in the 21st Century today, there is still any attempt to interfere in the domestic affairs of the Solomon Islands and dictate terms to the country, it would be disrespect to a sovereign nation. The agreement between China and the Solomon Islands is conducted in light of the request and need of the Solomon Island and through consultations on an equal footing.
Its purpose is to assist the Solomon Islands in maintaining social order. China does not impose anything on anyone. That is not how the Chinese people conduct ourselves. Anytime when our friends and partners need support, China is always ready to extend a helping hand.
Furthermore, the Pacific Island Countries have the right to achieve peace, development and prosperity, their people have the freedom to pursue a better life, and their future and destiny can only be determined by the Pacific Island countries themselves.
When developing relations with the Pacific Islands countries, China never interferes in their internal affairs and never seeks so-called "spheres of influence", never regards any country in this region as its “backyard”. Not like some other countries in the world which have a history of colonialism and testing nuclear weapons in the Pacific region, China does not have such a history and will never do such things.
Instead, China has come to the Pacific Island region to build roads and bridges and improve the people’s standards of living, not to station troops or build military bases. China proposes that we should uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and jointly promote peace, security and stability in the Pacific Island region. China stands ready to work with the Pacific Island Countries to expand consensus on regional cooperation, not to sign any regional security agreement.
Those who are making such noises are the people who are unwilling to see the sound development of China-Tonga and China-Pacific Islands countries’ cooperation, who are unwilling to see the improvement of the well-being of the Pacific Islands people.
China-Pacific Islands countries relations are the larger background of the China-Tonga relations. This pair of relations affect each other with positive interaction. China, the world’s largest developing country, fully understands the situation, needs and concerns of all developing countries including the Pacific Islands countries. China will uphold justice in safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the Pacific Islands countries on the international stage, and speaking up in global affairs such as climate change.
Apart from the tangible benefits brought to this promising region by China over the past decades, there will be more invisible benefits being invested to this once-neglected area, by countries that followed up China. This will enhance the international voice of Tonga and the other Pacific Islands countries.
Finally, I would like to say again that, as one of the development partners of Tonga, China doesn’t just talk the talk, China walks the walk. When it comes to development commitments, China has a strong track record of delivering.
China will continue to deliver on its commitments on its economic and technical cooperation with Tonga. China will always be a good friend, a good brother, a good partner of Tonga and the other Pacific Islands countries, and will work hand in hand to build an even closer China-Pacific Island Countries community with a shared future.
