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Ambassador CAO Xiaolin's Speech at the Launch of the Tonga-China Friendship Association (TCFA) Office and Conference Room
2020-10-19 16:23

Your Royal Highness Princess Pilolevu Tuita, President of Tonga-China Friendship Association(TCFA)

Lord Tuita,

Hon. Samiu Vaipulu, Vice Chairman of TCFA, Minister of Trade and Economic Development,

Amb. Latu, Secretary General of TCFA,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today is a memorable day in the history of China-Tonga friendship. With the care from HRH Princess Pilolev Tuita, with the efforts of everybody present here and with the support from the Chinese Embassy in Tonga, the office and conference room of Tonga-China Friendship Association (TCFA) is launched.

From now on, TCFA has its new home, a very warm home, a home that all of us care for, and a home dedicated to promoting the friendship between China and Tonga. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I wish to congratulate the new progress made in the promotion of China-Tonga friendship.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank His Majesty King Tupou VI for signing the joint communique on behalf of the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga 22 years ago, which started a new era for China-Tonga friendship. We appreciate His Majesty for his firm commitment to the one-China principle. I would also like to take this opportunity to particularly thank Your Royal Highness Princess Pilolev Tuita for your outstanding contributions to the promotion of the people-to-people exchanges between China and Tonga over the past 22 years. From the bottom of our hearts, we regard Your Royal Highness and Lord Tuita as some of our closest friends in Tonga.

Since its establishment in 2009, TCFA has taken the mission of developing the friendship between the Chinese people and the Tonga people. The Chinese Embassy in Tonga wishes to work with TCFA to foster the friendship in many ways:

First, we will do good and practical deeds. Deep friendship is built on many good things for a long time,even for centuries, and it needs mass efforts. The Chinese Embassy will continue to support the Tongan communities, some families and the women’s organizations to improve their standards of living through their own work, for the purposes to cope with the impact of Covid-19 and, more importantly, to expand the foundation of China-Tonga friendship.

Second, we will tell the good stories on the China-Tonga friendship to more people. The exchanges and cooperation between China and Tonga in various fields, such as politics, economy, culture, education, agriculture and health, have yielded tangible results, with many significant historical events and touching stories over the past two decades. The Chinese Embassy wishes to work with TCFA to hold photo exhibitions for Tongan teachers and students, and publish a book in Tonga language on China-Tonga friendly relations and cooperation to attract more and more people to join us for our friendship. At the same time, we have to bear in mind a saying that, a rotten apple injures its neighbors. We must stay alert to a certain website in Tongan language on smearing China-Tonga friendship with its biased opinions and fabricated materials. Secretary General Amb. Latu immediately wrote a letter on behalf of the Board members of TCFA to express concerns to the Editor of that website, and responded with a good article telling the truth of China-Tonga relationship in an effort to refute those lies on China and China-Tonga friendly relations and cooperation. The unique and important role by the TCFA should be given full play in this respect.

Third, we will enhance capacity building. The Chinese Embassy will strengthen the communication with TCFA and work out an action plan for the further promotion of our friendship. Besides, we will build this new home of TCFA more comfortable so that more people will join this big family of friendship.

Today’s launch of the new office of TCFA is a new start for our closer future friendship. I am confident that, with the care of Your Royal Highness, and through our unremitting efforts, the China-Tonga friendship will last forever.

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