There is an old Chinese saying which tells us, "When we meet for the first time, we are acquaintances; When we meet for the second time, we are old friends". So the Vice Chairman of the People's Republic of China's National People's Congress Jiang Zhenghua, conveyed his government's wishes of friendship to the Tongan Foreign Minister the Hon. Sonatane Tu'akinamolahi Taumoepeau Tupou, when they first met at the Tongan Ministry for Foreign Affairs on 5th September 2007. Speaking through an interpreter Zhenghua, a former university professor, made it a point during their meeting that he exudes no demeanor that resembles a look down posture on the Kingdom and its people. When he spoke of China's annual growth rate of 10 to 11 percent during the past years, he emphasised that the good from it will be given to developing countries to improve their economies and societies. Zhenghua spoke of the long standing commitment by both countries to strengthen their partnership in development and world politics through the United Nations and other international fora. He reassured the Tongan authorities that China will assit in any way possible  to alleviate the economic and financial misfit brought about by the 16/11 debacle. 

 

The Hon. Tu'a Taumoepeau Tupou in his response conveyed His Majesty's Government unwavered stance on the one China and agreed with Vice Chairman Zhenghua that sovereignty is the best policy. The meeting also touched on training in the agricultural field as well as those of communications and diplomacy. China is now among the Kingdom's major aid donor and with the Nuku'alofa reconstruction it will be the main benefactor through a loan from China. China will also be donating cars and motorcycles to be used by Forum leaders when they meet in Tonga in October.  

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