Wang Yi meets with the Crown Prince of Tonga and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tupouto'a.

On May 28, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with the Crown Prince and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tonga, Tupouto'a, who came to China to attend the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Xiamen. Wang Yi conveyed President Xi Jinping's warm greetings to King Tupou VI. He stated that in the 27 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Tonga, the relationship between the two countries has continued to develop rapidly. Whether in response to natural disasters or working together to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Tonga have always assisted each other and weathered difficulties together, practicing the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind through practical actions. China firmly supports Tonga in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and development interests, and supports Tonga in choosing its own development path and governance model. China highly appreciates Tonga's adherence to the One China principle and is willing to work with Tonga to implement important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and continue to elevate China-Tonga relations to a new level for the benefit of the Tongan people. Wang Yi mentioned that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Tonga, friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two countries have penetrated various fields and levels, injecting a continuous source of energy into China-Tonga relations through high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. China will be a reliable long-term partner for Tonga and will continue to promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields. China adheres to the principle of equality among all countries, regardless of size, and supports Tonga's increased participation in international and regional affairs. China appreciates Tonga's long-term support for China's just positions in multilateral settings and is willing to work together with "Global South" countries, including Tonga, to jointly oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and practice genuine multilateralism. Tupouto'a conveyed King Tupou VI's sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping, and thanked China for its assistance to Tonga in the face of natural disasters and pandemic challenges. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Tonga and China, the two countries have made significant progress in their relationship, providing strong support for improvements in the livelihoods of Tongan people. During his visit to Shandong, Tupouto'a gained a deeper understanding of Confucianism. Tonga has always firmly adhered to the One China policy, and is willing to strengthen ideological exchanges with China, promote practical cooperation in areas such as health and education, and better benefit the people of both countries. Tupouto'a highly appreciates China's practical measures to help Pacific Island countries cope with climate change and wishes for the success of the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting.