Chinese Foreign Minister and Tonga's Crown Prince Emphasize Strengthening Mutual Support and Strategic Partnership

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, welcomed Tonga's Crown Prince and Minister for Foreign Affairs Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala in Xiamen City, Fujian Province on Wednesday. The high-level meeting coincided with the third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting, bringing renewed focus to deepening relations between Beijing and the island nations of the Pacific.

During the talks, Wang Yi conveyed President Xi Jinping's warm greetings to Tonga’s King Tupou VI, highlighting 27 years of robust diplomatic ties between the two countries. He underscored how China and Tonga have supported one another through “numerous challenges,” from natural disasters to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Wang stressed that both sides have demonstrated the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind through practical cooperation and solidarity.

Wang reaffirmed China’s “firm support” for Tonga’s sovereignty and its development interests, lauding Tonga’s steadfast adherence to the One-China Principle. He indicated that this mutual respect has provided the foundation for broad-ranging bilateral cooperation, including “fruitful consensus” reached at the highest level by the two heads of state. Over nearly three decades, China–Tonga ties have advanced across government levels and from economic to cultural spheres, with the Belt and Road Initiative cited as a driving force for partnership and infrastructure development.

The foreign minister pledged that China will remain a reliable, long-term partner for Tonga, emphasizing the principle of equality among all states, regardless of size. He praised Tonga for its proactive role in international affairs and consistent support for China’s stances in global forums. Both sides, he said, are determined to champion “genuine multilateralism” together with other Global South nations, countering unilateralism and protectionism.

Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala, in turn, delivered heartfelt greetings from King Tupou VI to President Xi Jinping, expressing deep appreciation for China’s timely assistance during Tonga’s volcanic eruption and pandemic response. The Crown Prince highlighted significant progress in bilateral relations, noting the tangible improvement in the livelihoods of the Tongan people that cooperation has brought. He also spoke of his recent visit to Shandong Province, where an exploration of Confucian philosophy furthered his understanding of Chinese culture.

Reaffirming Tonga's unwavering commitment to the One-China stance, the Crown Prince called for enhanced collaboration in medical services, education, and climate change adaptation. He also voiced strong confidence in the positive outcomes of the ongoing foreign ministers' summit, signaling continued momentum in the evolving partnership. Both sides closed the meeting with aspirations for even deeper ties and shared regional prosperity moving forward.