On April 10, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with Tongan King Taufa'ahau Tupou V in the city of Sanya in China's southernmost Hainan province. Both sides agreed to take the opportunity of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties to deepen exchanges and cooperation in all areas and push for long-term sound and stable development of bilateral ties.

This year marked the 10th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Tonga and "opened a new chapter of bilateral ties," Hu said, hailing the substantial development of China-Tonga relations over the past ten years. The two countries have maintained frequent high-level exchanges, deepened political ties and scored fruitful cooperation on economy and trade, agriculture, education, public health, infrastructure and human resources training. There was also sound coordination in regional and global affairs, Hu added.

Hu pointed out that both China and Tonga, as developing nations, are actively exploring a development path suitable to its national realities and share broad common interests. China has always considered Tonga as an intimate friend, he said, adding that it is the Chinese government's unswerving policy to continuously develop China-Tonga relations, as well as China's friendly cooperative relations with Pacific Island countries. China hoped that both sides would show mutual respect and support to each other in the political area and carry out mutually beneficial cooperation for common development in the economic field. China vowed to provide assistance within its capacity for the island country's economic construction and improvement of people's livelihood, Hu said. China is ready to take King Tupou V's visit to China and the 10th anniversary of diplomatic ties as opportunities to deepen exchanges and cooperation in all areas and push for long-term sound and stable development of bilateral ties for the benefits of both peoples, Hu added.

King Tupou V said the Tongan government attaches great importance to developing friendly ties with China, pointing to the fruitful all-round cooperation including economic and trade exchanges. He commended the close commercial links between businesses of the two countries, in particular the sound cooperation in mineral resources exploration and development. Tonga thanks for China's economic aid to the country, King Tupou V said, adding that the Tongan government would continue to engage in the mutually-beneficial cooperation between the two countries in all fields.

On the Taiwan question, Tonga firmly adhered to the one-China policy, he said. It also supported the measures adopted by China to handle the incident that sabotaged social order in Lhasa, capital of the southwest Tibet Autonomous Region. China's affairs can only be tackled by China and no interference from any foreign country was acceptable, the king said. Hu thanked the king for his remarks.

Following the talks, President Hu and King Tupou V attended a signing ceremony of three cooperation documents including an agreement on economic and technological cooperation between the two governments.

Before the talks, Hu hosted a grand ceremony to welcome the king.

Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee (CPCCC) & director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee Ling Jihua, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee (CPCCC) & director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee Wang Huning, State Councilor Dai Bingguo and other officials attended the above-mentioned activities.