His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukālala of Tonga, who also serves as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for His Majesty’s Armed Forces, recently concluded a fruitful visit to Shandong, China, further strengthening bilateral relations.
The trip underscored the growing partnership between China and Tonga in key areas such as education, healthcare, climate resilience, and industrial development.
During his stay, the Crown Prince attended the opening ceremony of the Shandong International Friendship Cities Conference for Cooperation and Development in Jinan, where he delivered remarks highlighting Shandong’s vital support for Tonga in critical sectors.
He emphasised the importance of people-to-people exchanges in fostering long-term collaboration and mutual understanding between the two nations.
A significant part of the visit was dedicated to exploring ties between Tonga’s Vava’u and its sister city, Liaocheng. The Crown Prince toured Zhongtong Bus Co., a leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles, to discuss potential cooperation in green transportation.
He also visited the Pacific Island Countries Research Centre and the China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Change Cooperation Centre, where discussions focused on enhancing joint efforts in climate adaptation and sustainable development.
In Jinan, the Crown Prince made a special stop at Shandong University QILU Hospital, where he explored opportunities for deeper medical collaboration.
This visit is expected to facilitate knowledge exchange and healthcare improvements for Tonga.
The successful trip marks another milestone in China-Tonga relations, with Shandong playing a central role in advancing practical cooperation.
Both sides expressed optimism for future collaboration, reinforcing their commitment to a stronger and more prosperous partnership.
