On June 13 2014, Ambassador H.E. Mr. HUANG Huguang published an article in local media to talk about China-Tonga relations in the past half year.
True Friend Afar Brings a Distant Land Near
H.E. Mr. HUANG Huaguang
Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom of Tonga
It is my great honor to be appointed as the Chinese Ambassador to the Kingdom of Tonga and come to this prestigious “friendly island” right before Christmas last year.
Although it’s only half a year since my arrival in the Kingdom, I have some personal feelings which I would like to share with my Tongan friends.
Unique charm of the Kingdom of Tonga
Before coming here, I heard from some Chinese friends of mine that Tonga won high praise for its charm and beauty. But only after being involved in Tongan natural and social environment, did I finally understand what they meant.
In Tonga, I’m tremendously fascinated by its clean sky, blue sea, white clouds, golden beaches, flourishing trees and fragrant flowers. I’m emotionally touched by the bright smiles of the friendly and warm-hearted Tongan people who greatly value the family and friendship. I’m deeply attracted to its folk music, traditional dancing, colorful national dressing and featured handicrafts, which demonstrate the wisdom and sentiment of Tongan people.
What’s most impressive to me is the way that Tonga people cherish their history, culture and especially four core values: Fefaka’apa’apa’aki (mutual respect), Feveitokai’aki (sharing, cooperating and fulfillment of mutual obligations), Lototoo (humility and generosity), and Tauhivaha’a (loyalty and commitment). This is Tonga, in my own eyes, from where we can see the harmony between human and nature and the fusion of traditional culture and aspiration for modernization. A Tongan friend once told me that “Nuku’alofa” means the “abode of love”. Personally I think the whole Kingdom of Tonga is the “abode of love”, and the longer I live here the more I like it.
New progress of China-Tonga relationship
China and Tonga, as each other’s trust-worthy friends and important partners in Pacific island country region, have always been developing bilateral relations in accordance with the principles of mutual equality, respect and benefit.
It was the 15th anniversary of China-Tonga diplomatic ties when I assumed office in Tonga last year, and now the China-Tonga relationship is entering into a new historical stage with its full potential.
Over the past 6 months, I have seen new significant progress achieved in political, economic, cultural cooperation between our two countries.
On the political front, mutual trust has been enhanced though frequent high-level exchange.
In March, H.E. Mr. Wang Jiarui, Vice-Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee and Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, paid a successful visit to Tonga.
H.E Mr. Wang Jiarui, H.M. King Tupou VI, Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano and Speaker Lord Fakafanua agreed to make renewed efforts to further advance our relations in the next few years.
At the end of April, China’s Special Envoy to China-Pacific Islands Forum Dialogue H.E. Du Qiwen visited Tonga and had an extensive exchange of views with HRH Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala, Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano and Deputy Speaker Lord Tu’iha’ateiho on a wide range of issues of common interests and reached important consensus on the bilateral cooperation between our two countries.
Furthermore, the Hon. Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu led the first ever Tongan Government and Parliament Joint Delegation to China in May, which created a new model of mutual exchange and enriched the contents of the bilateral relationship. All these exchanges have promoted mutual understanding, enhanced mutual trust and further consolidated the political foundation for our bilateral relationship.
On the economic front, the fruitful economic cooperation has been conducted steadily. Considering the financial situation that Tongan government is facing, the Chinese Government agreed to a 5-year extension to the Tongan side’s repayment of the Chinese concessional loan, as a symbol of the China-Tonga friendship.
In addition, the Chinese Government has decided to offer a brand new Y-12 aircraft to Tonga within this year, with a view to further assisting Tonga in promoting the civil aviation and tourism development. Apart from the 600,000 USD cash assistance already provided to Tonga immediately after Cyclone Ian, the Chinese side is now considering aiding the Ha’apai Airport Upgrading Project, seeking to contribute more to the reconstruction work in Ha’apai.
Meanwhile, I’m very glad to see the opening of the Pacific International Commercial Bank, the first China-Tonga joint venture, indicating that more and more Chinese businessmen are looking at Tonga and would like to invest in Tonga. I’m full of confidence that the bilateral cooperation will further promote the economic and social development of Tonga, bring more real benefit to the Tongan people and inject new vitality into the China-Tonga relationship.
The cultural exchanges, people to people contacts and the exchanges in other areas have been on the increase. HRH Princess Salote Pilolevu Tuita was invited as the guest of honor to attend the ceremony of celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and met with the Chinese President HE Mr. Xi Jinping. 19 excellent Tongan students have been meticulously selected from all around Tonga to have further study in China with the Chinese Government scholarship.
Moreover, we are also expecting the upcoming visit of Chongqing art group to present the wonderful Chinese cultural performance later this month, and the Chinese Navy Hospital Ship “Peace Ark” to provide medical service to Tongan people in August.
What’s worth mentioning is that I was deeply moved and inspired by Tongan students’ great passion for Chinese culture and outstanding presentation of Chinese language learning, during a Chinese language public class in Tonga High School. “Amity between people holds the key to sound relations between states”.
The aforesaid bilateral exchanges will definitely enhance the mutual understanding between our two peoples and cultures and nourish the evergreen friendship tree between China and Tonga.
Great Confidence in future China-Tonga relationship
Community of purpose makes friendship. The longer I stay in Tonga, the more common ground and potential of cooperation I can find. And in this regard, I have every reason to be confident of the future development of the China-Tonga relationship.
We share the similarities of cultural values. Culture is the soul of a nation, lasting motive for the economic and social development and guidance of a country’s policy. China has a time-honored civilization spanning over 5,000 years.
The long history generated many important ideas, such as the moral injunction of fidelity to one’s parents, brothers and friends, the sense of propriety, justice, integrity and honor, the emphasis on benevolence and kindness towards each other.
These values still carry a profound impact on the Chinese people’s way of life today. The Chinese culture values the harmony in diversity and believes that civilizations are diversified, equal and inclusive. No one civilization can be judged superior to another. Different civilizations need to respect each other and promote exchanges and mutual learning, in pursuit of harmonious coexistence and common development. It’s not hard to see that these Chinese ideas are highly consistent with the Tongan values.
The similarities of cultural values make it much easier for our two nations to respect and understand each other and build a bridge of understanding, communication and cooperation between our two civilizations.
We share the common dream of development. Despite of different national conditions, China and Tonga, both as Pacific region countries, share a wide range of common interests and face the common task of development. Now the Chinese people are committed to the fulfillment of the Chinese Dream, aimed at achieving economic prosperity, national rejuvenation and people’s happiness. Tonga is also striving for its dream of economic development and improvement of people’s living. Great dreams make great people. The Chinese Dream is the dream of peace, development and win-win outcomes. As a responsible member of the international community and a developing country, China will adhere to the path of peaceful development, try to harmonize the fulfillment of the Chinese Dream and the Tongan Dream and join hands with Tonga to achieve the great common dream of development.
We share the big potential of cooperation. China and Tonga complement each other in their respective pursuit of economic development. China has abundant capital for development and an increasingly expanding market, while Tonga has its own advantages in developing industries like tourism, agriculture and fishery. There are broad prospects and huge potential of cooperation between China and Tonga. I do believe that, as the infrastructure and service here in Tonga are improved, more Chinese tourists will visit Tonga and more Chinese businessmen will invest in Tonga.
As the ancient Chinese saying goes, true friend afar brings a distant land near. I think this is the vivid portrayal of the China-Tonga relationship: despite the great distance between our two countries, the similar value, common dream and potential of cooperation have brought our two peoples together and make our bilateral relations even stronger.
As the Chinese Ambassador to Tonga, I would like to share the motto of Tonga High School “Ki he Lelei Taha” (to the best) with my dear Tongan friends. I sincerely hope to join hands with you all and make renewed efforts to create a brighter future of the friendly cooperation relationship between China and Tonga.