Premier Li Keqiang met with Tonga’s King Tupou VI, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 1.

Premier Li said China regards Tonga as a good friend and good partner in the Pacific island region, and the fruitful talks between President Xi Jinping and King Tupou VI would give a big push to the relations between the two countries.

According to the Premier, China appreciates Tonga’s adherence to the One China policy. Taking the opportunity of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, China is ready to enhance mutual political trust, expand pragmatic cooperation and maintain close people-to-people exchanges with Tonga, and better align the Belt and Road Initiative with Tonga’s development strategy to elevate the bilateral relationship to a new height.

China supports Tonga’s construction of major production, infrastructure and livelihood projects, and is willing to carry out exchanges on agricultural technology with the country, Premier Li said, adding that Tonga’s high-quality agricultural and fishery products are welcomed by the Chinese market.

The Premier also conveyed sympathy to Tonga, which was recently hit by a tropical cyclone, expressing confidence that the Tongan people will surely overcome the difficulties and rebuild their home, and reiterating that China is ready to provide assistance within its available resources.

For his part, the king said despite the long distance between the two countries, the bilateral relations have maintained stable and healthy development over the past two decades since the establishment of diplomatic ties.

Tonga firmly supports the One China policy and stands ready to further deepen mutual political trust, expand economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges with China, the king said. He also expected further cooperation in such fields as education, infrastructure and agricultural food in order to achieve a win-win outcome.