BEIJING, Nov. 26 -- China is ready to enhance synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Tonga's national development strategies, and to use the signature of the Enhanced Economic Partnership Agreement between the two countries as an opportunity to boost two-way trade and investment, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Wednesday.
Li made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with King Tupou VI of the Kingdom of Tonga. He also called for the advancement of cooperation in such areas as infrastructure construction and industries, and for the proper arrangement and implementation of cooperation plans in development-related fields to serve the modernization drives of both countries in an improved manner.
Li said that China is willing to import more high-quality agricultural and fishery products from Tonga, and to encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Tonga, adding that both sides should expand exchange in the fields of education, health, subnational cooperation, tourism and sports.
China is ready to strengthen multilateral coordination and collaboration with Tonga to tackle global challenges such as climate change, he said. It is also ready to actively pursue the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity, implement the four major global initiatives, and contribute to shaping a more just, equitable global governance system, he added, expressing hope that Tonga will continue to play an active role in enhancing cooperation between China and Pacific Island countries.
The two nations have always supported each other firmly in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, King Tupou VI said, reaffirming that Tonga adheres to the one-China principle and supports United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 fully.
The Tongan government attaches great importance to its relations with China, the king noted. It is willing to deepen pragmatic cooperation with China in fields such as the economy and trade, agriculture and fisheries, clean energy, health care, and disaster prevention and mitigation, and to enhance people-to-people exchange in such areas as youth and sports, he added.
Tonga supports the four major global initiatives put forward by China's head of state, and is willing to strengthen multilateral communication and coordination with China to tackle common challenges such as climate change, promote more achievements in South-South cooperation, and advance the reform of the global governance system, the king said.
