China reaffirms friendship, cooperation with Pacific island countries(6)

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Tonga Prime Minister Siale'ataonga Tu'ivakano in Nadi, Fiji, Nov 22, 2014. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

While meeting with Siale'ataongo Tu'ivakano, prime minister of the Kingdom of Tonga, Xi said that the China-Tonga friendly exchanges date back to a long time ago, and China values its friendship with Tonga and supports its efforts to maintain domestic stability, advance economic and social reforms and promote sustainable development.

He said that China is willing to deepen cooperation with Tonga in infrastructure construction, people's livelihood, personnel training and other areas, and help Tonga tackle climate change within the framework of the South-South cooperation.

Tu'ivakano said that the Tonga-China relationship has made steady progress on the basis of mutual respect, and Tonga hopes to, with the assistance of China, overcome the difficulties brought by the global financial crisis, promote economic recovery and growth, and improve people's living standard.