Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Liu Weimin at the Spring Festival Reception

2025-01-22 16:41

Hon. Prime Minister Designate ʻAisake Eke,

Hon. Acting Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu,

Lord Speaker Fakafanua,

Hon. Members of His Majesty’s Privy Council,

Hon. Nobles of the Realm,

Hon. Ministers of His Majesty’s Government,

Hon. Members of the Legislative Assembly,

Excellencies and colleagues from the diplomatic corps,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Mālō e lelei, Good Evening.

It is my great pleasure to have you tonight at this joyful event to celebrate the Chinese New Year. First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Tonga, I would like to extend my warm welcome and heartfelt holiday wishes to you all!

The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the oldest and the most important traditional festival in China, embodies the longing of all Chinese people for family reunion, reflects values of peace, amity and harmony that are cherished by the Chinese civilization, which could be enjoyed by the world. Now it has become a UN floating holiday and has been listed on the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. An increasing number of foreigners begin to celebrate the Spring Festival, showing its growing global popularity. It serves as a window to enable people around the world to understand China and Chinese culture, and builds a bridge for exchanges and mutual learning among all civilizations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

2024 was an extraordinary year for China. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China called for further deepening all-round reform and injected strong momentum into promoting the common development of China and the world at large. We celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding of New China, Chinese path to modernization is becoming ever broader. China’s economy remains on a positive trajectory, making solid gains in pursuing high-quality development and its GDP for the year is USD 18.9 trillion, making China remaining as the the world’s second largest economy. We upheld fundamental principles while breaking new ground in diplomacy, actively promoted global governance reform and deepened solidarity and cooperation among the Global South, advanced talks for peace and build stable major-country relations, providing much-needed stability and certainty to a turbulent world.

2024 was an extraordinary year for Tonga. Tonga celebrated His Majesty King Tupou VI's 65th birthday, successfully hosted the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting after 17 years and won the bid to host the 2031 Pacific Games. In the past year, Tonga coordinated economic development, climate response and international cooperation, the domestic economy recovered steadily and showed resilience, the capabilities to participate in global and regional affairs improved markedly.

2024 was also an extraordinary year for China-Tonga relations. President Xi Jinping and King Tupou VI maintained regular correspondence. Under the strategic guidance of our leadership, the comprehensive strategic partnership has scaled new heights. Frequent mutual visits at various levels have taken place, with nearly 10 cabinet ministers and members of parliament visiting China. H.E Hu Chunhua, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), as well as delegations from Guangdong and Shandong Provinces visited Tonga. Solid progress has been made in economic and trade cooperation. According to General Administration of Customs of China, in the first 11 months of 2024, the total import and export trade volume between China and Tonga reached USD 66.08 million, up by 26 percent. Belt and Road Cooperation has deepened and yielded tangible results. Tonga High Sports Complex Project will be handed over soon, the Wind Farm Project was put into test operation. Tonga has joined the Belt and Road International Cooperation Framework for disaster risk reduction and emergency management, Chinese Medical Team and agricultural experts shared advanced experience in medical services and agricultural production without reservation. China-Tonga friendship leaves its footprints everywhere in Tonga.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Since I took office last April, I had engaged extensively with people from all walks of life in Tonga including visiting Vava’u and Ha’apai. My greatest feeling is that China-Tonga friendship and the one-China principle are deeply rooted in the hearts of Tongan people, common development has been an inexhaustible source of driving force for our relations. China attaches great importance to its relations with Tonga, and always stands ready to work with Tonga to make new progress in bilateral relations, promote sustainable development of our two countries and bring more benefit to our two peoples.

In traditional Chinese culture, the snake symbolizes wisdom, bravery and resilience. Year 2025 marks the 55th anniversary of Tonga’s independence, and the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people’s war of resistance against Japanese aggression and the world anti-fascist war. Amid changes and instability in the world, China and Tonga need to consolidate solidarity and cooperation more than ever, carry forward the spirit of courage and tenacity like the snake, and jointly pursue a brighter future for our two countries.

First, we should firmly support each other and deepen political mutual trust. The principles for China to develop relations with Pacific Island countries including Tonga are four respects of their sovereignty, independence and will, cultural traditions and effort to seek strength through unity. We also believe it is essential to let Pacific Island countries make their own decisions, put development first, stay open and inclusive. We appreciate that Tonga adheres to the one-China principle, respects our core interests and major concerns. We believe Tonga will continue to support China on issues related to Taiwan and human rights to cement the political foundation of our relations.

Second, we should promote practical cooperation and realize common development. China and Tonga are both developing countries and members of the Global South. Development is the common goal of our two countries. China is willing to share the experience of Chinese modernization with Tonga, enhance greater synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative, Global Development Initiative and Tonga Strategic Development Framework, carry out more practical cooperation in various fields, so as to boost development and revitalization of Tonga, and build an even closer community with a shared future between China and Tonga.

Third, we should strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges, bringing our hearts closer. The important foundation of friendship between China and Tonga lies in the people. China will promote the cultural exchanges and sports cooperation, provide more scholarship opportunities. We warmly welcome more Tongan friends to explore and experience China by taking advantage of the visa-free policy, and tell the story of China-Tonga friendship.

China-Tonga relations have maintained sound momentum, which is inseparable from the strong support and active participation from the overseas Chinese and Chinese enterprises in Tonga. The Chinese Embassy in Tonga will continue to commit itself to serving the people, provide better, more convenient, more heartwarming services, and offer the strong support.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In conclusion, I would like to extend once again my wishes to you all for a joyful 2025 Spring Festival. May the year of snake bring you abundance, prosperity, good luck and health.

Thank you.

Malo ‘aupito, Ofa atu!