Tonga

Note: This column mainly includes countries along the Belt and Road and countries that have signed cooperation agreements with China on Belt and Road Initiative.

The year 2013 marked the 15th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of Tonga. The relations between the two countries maintained a sound momentum of growth.

The two countries had close high-level exchanges and exchanges at all levels. In July, Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano of Tonga attended the opening ceremony of the Eco-Forum Global Annual Conference Guiyang 2013 and visited Beijing and Guangdong. Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli met with him in Guiyang. In Beijing, Premier Li Keqiang, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng and President Li Xiaolin of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries met with him respectively. The two sides exchanged views on China-Tonga relations and cooperation in all areas. In August, Tonga's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure Samiu Vaipulu visited China. In September, Princess Salote Pilolevu Tuita visited China. In November, Prime Minister Tu'ivakano attended the second China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum in Guangzhou and visited Shenzhen. Vice Premier Wang Yang met with him. In September, Li Qiangmin, Special Envoy for China-Pacific Islands Forum Dialogue, met with Prime Minister Tu'ivakano on the sidelines of the 25th Post Forum Dialogue of the Pacific Islands Forum in Majuro, the capital of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Exchanges and cooperation in business, military and culture made steady progress. The MA-60 aircraft donated by China were handed over and put into service. The China-aided Tongatapu Demonstration Ecotype Agricultural Technical Cooperation Project Phase II was completed. In May, Vice President Wang Jinzhen of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade visited Tonga and chaired the China-Tonga Investment Seminar. In August, General Wu Changde, Deputy Chief of the PLA General Political Department, led a military delegation to Tonga. The two countries held a series of events to celebrate the 15th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Shenzhen Art Troupe staged performances in Tonga in late October and early November.