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China ready to work with Tonga and other countries to promote global development

By
Philip Cass
-

China is ready to make joint efforts with Tonga to strengthen co-operation and develop the Strategic Partnership of Mutual Respect and Common Development between the two countries.

In a statement released to Kaniva News, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of Tonga H.E. Huang Huaguang, said globalisation had unavoidably had a certain impact on Tonga’s economy, but also created more opportunities for Tonga to interact with the world.

He described Tonga as an important member of the Asia-Pacific family. In recent years, China has carried out friendly co-operation in various fields with Tonga and other countries in South Pacific, which has boosted the social and economic development of these countries.

The ambassador said the international political and economic situation was intricate and complicated.

“Global challenges like terrorism, refugee and climate change emerged one after another,” Ambassador Huang said.

“Britain has voted to leave the European Union. There have been voices questioning or even opposing economic globalisation in the developed economies in Europe and America.

“Isolationism and trade protectionism are obviously increasing all over the world. The trend of globalisation and mankind’s future have become the universal concern of the international community.”

He said it was against this background, the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2017 was held in Davos of Switzerland on January 17 under the theme of responsive and responsible leadership.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was invited to attend and made a keynote speech ‘Jointly shoulder responsibilities of our times, promote global Growth.’

This was the first time that China’s top leader had attended the annual meeting. President Xi also attended the high-level meeting of the theme of ‘Jointly building a community of shared future for mankind through Consultation’ in Geneva on January 18 and gave an important speech: ‘Work together to build a community of shared future for Mankind.’ In his speeches, the President expounded China’s vision and proposals on the economic globalisation, international governance and mankind’s future.

Ambassador Huang said that in his speeches President Xi had addressed five main questions:

How should we view economic globalisation?

President Xi pointed out that economic globalisation resulted from growing social productivity and was a natural outcome of scientific and technological progress. It has powered global growth and facilitated movement of goods and capital, advances in science, technology and civilisation, and interactions among peoples. Meanwhile, we should recognize that economic globalisation is a double-edged sword. While propelling global economic growth, it has also brought some negative outcomes and new challenges like poverty, unemployment. A widening income gap has strained relations between growth and distribution, between capital and labor, and between efficiency and equity. However, economic globalisation is the general trend of history and its general direction is right. It should be viewed comprehensively. We should pay attention to its deficiencies, but not give up eating for fear of choking or simply attribute problems like financial crisis and refugees to globalisation, let alone protectionism.

How to move forward economic globalisation?

In his speeches, President Xi presented China’s solution. He emphasised that in the face of opportunities and challenges brought by economic globalisation, the international community should enhance co-ordination and co-operation, improve governance to make economic globalisation open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all and ensure justice and equity. We should adapt to and guide economic globalisation, cushion its negative impact and deliver its benefits to all countries and nations. China maintains that we should act pro-actively and manage economic globalisation as appropriate to re-balance the process of economic globalisation; we should follow the general trend, proceed from our respective national conditions and embark on the right pathway of integrating into economic globalisation with the right pace; we should strike a balance between efficiency and equity to ensure that different countries, different social strata and different groups of people all share the benefits of economic globalisation.

How to view the relations between China and economic globalisation?

There was a time when China also had doubts about economic globalisation, but China finally made the right strategic decision to integrate into the global economy. Over nearly 40 years since reform and opening up, having seized the opportunities brought by economic globalisation, China has been actively co-operating with other countries and making great economic achievements. China has not only benefited from economic globalisation but also contributed to it. In the process of globalisation, the rapid growth of China’s economy has played an important role for global economic stability and expansion. Since reform and opening up, China has attracted more than $1.7 trillion of foreign investment and made over $1.2 trillion of direct outbound investment. In the years following the outbreak of the global financial crisis, China contributed more than 30 percent of global growth every year on average and is the main engine of global economic recovery.

How to open up a beautiful future for mankind?

At present, the trend toward multi-polarisation and economic globalisation is surging. Interconnection and interdependence between countries is crucial for human survival. No country can develop in isolation. In the face of major global challenges, all countries should follow the trend toward peace, development and co-operation, respect national sovereignty, and stay committed to dialogue and consultation, joint efforts, mutual learning and low-carbon development to build a world of lasting peace, common security and prosperity.

At present, the most pressing task for all the countries is to steer the global economy out of difficulty and solve three critical issues in the global economic sphere: lack of robust driving forces for global growth, inadequate global economic governance and uneven global development. We should develop a dynamic, innovation-driven growth model, an open and win-win co-operation model, a fair and equitable governance model and a balanced, equitable and inclusive development model. We should pursue new development philosophy, policy instruments and growth models. We must firmly oppose protectionism, develop global free trade and inter-connectivity, give emerging markets and developing countries greater representation and voice and promote social equity and justice.

What role will China play?

As the second largest economy in the world, guided by the vision of innovative, co-ordinated, green, open and shared development, China will adapt to and steer the current state of the economy, achieve medium-high rates of growth and vigorously create an enabling and orderly environment for investment and foster an external environment of opening-up for common development. In the coming five years, China is expected to import $8 trillion of goods, attract $600 billion of foreign investment and spend $750 billion in outbound investment. Chinese tourists will make 700 million overseas visits. All this will provide a bigger market, more capital, more products and more business opportunities for other countries. China welcomes people of other countries aboard the express train of China’s development. China will advance the building of the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific, support the successful operation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and other new multilateral financial institutions.

In May this year, China will host the ‘Belt and Road Forum for International Co-operation’ in Beijing to discuss ways to boost co-operation, build co-operation platforms and share co-operation outcomes.

China will resolutely uphold world peace, pursue common development, foster partnerships and support multi-lateralism. China stands ready to work with the international community in jointly pushing forward the great process of building a community of shared future for mankind.

Belt and Road

The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road, also known as The Belt and Road is a development strategy and framework that focuses on connectivity and co-operation among countries primarily between the People’s Republic of China and the rest of Eurasia. It has two main parts, the land-based ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’ and oceangoing Maritime Silk Road.’ For more information, see the links below- KN

The main points

  • China is ready to make joint efforts with Tonga to strengthen co-operation and develop the Strategic Partnership of Mutual Respect and Common Development between the two countries.
  • The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of Tonga, H.E. Huang Huaguang, said globalisation had affected Tonga’s economy, but also created more opportunities for Tonga to interact with the world.
  • The ambassador said the international political and economic situation was intricate and complicated.
  • The trend of globalisation and mankind’s future have become the universal concern of the international community.

For more information

Inside China’s Global Spending Spree

This Map Shows How China Is Building its Global Trade Empire

Real Tonga apologises for delay, but denies claims of favouritism to other passenger

By
Philip Cass
-

Real Tonga’s General Manager Commercial and Deputy Chief Executive Officer Tele Faletau has apologised for problems experienced  by a passenger we reported earlier this week.

But he said the delay to her flight was caused  by mechanical problems with an aircraft and denied that she had been offloaded from a later flight to make way for another passenger.

“We are very sorry that Mrs Kaihea was delayed in getting back to Vava’u which was due to aircraft serviceability,” Faletau said.

As Kaniva News reported, Seini Kaihea’s husband Alex Kaihea claimed his wife was given a boarding pass, but was stopped as she was about to enter the aircraft and told her name was not on the list.

He said there were suspicions that the airline had given her seat to another man who had just purchased his ticket at the counter.

He said he was devastated when his wife called him crying and explained what had happened to her at the Fu’amotu airport.

The Kaiheas, who live in Australia, flew from Brisbane to Tonga on December 17 on their way to Vava’u for a family reunion and to participate in the St Peter Chanel College 50th anniversary.

His wife bought a return ticket on Real Tonga to Nuku’alofa on December 19, with a return ticket to  Vava’u on December 24 on the 10.45am flight.

This afternoon, Wednesday 9 Tele Faletau, Real Tonga’s General Manager Commercial and Deputy Chief Executive Officer confirmed that Mrs Kaihea was booked on flight number RT801 Tongatapu to Vava’u on December 24.

“She took advantage of a special low fare that we were offering on a limited basis to customers during December,” Faletau said.

The fare was discounted by 50 percent and had conditions appeared in the ticket in which a copy was sent and seen by Kaniva.

He said the flight on which  Mrs Kaihea was booked, was to be operated by the company’s SAAB 340 aircraft.

However, the flight had to be cancelled because of a maintenance issue.

This meant passengers on this flight had to be re-scheduled to other services throughout the day.

He said that contrary to the Kaihea’s statement, Real Tonga does not check-in its passengers. This service is contracted to Air Terminal Services Ltd.

When the flight was cancelled, Mrs Kaihea was checked on to the next flight, as there were seats showing as being available.

However, when the passengers who were originally booked onto this next flight checked in, the available weight on the aircraft was exceeded.

This meant Real Tonga had to offload seven passengers.

Faletau said several announcements were made over the terminal PA system, requesting that seven passengers (called by name) come to the check-in desk, so that the situation could be explained.

He said Mrs Kaihea was included in this call, but she did not present herself to the check-in desk and  may have been outside the terminal and unable to hear the announcement.

The remaining six passengers did present themselves and were advised of the situation.

Mrs Kaihea was advised of the situation when she presented herself for boarding, he said.

He said claims that an ex-government CEO paid for his ticket at the counter and was given favourable treatment were untrue.

The person to whom she was referring had already booked and paid for the flight.

“I trust that the information provided above will clearly demonstrate that we certainly did not put another passenger on a higher priority than Mrs Kaihea,” he said.

The main points

  • Real Tonga’s General Manager Commercial and Deputy Chief Executive Officer Tele Faletau has apologised for problems experienced by a passenger we reported earlier this week.
  • He said the delay to her flight was caused by mechanical problems and denied that she had been offloaded from a later flight to make way for another passenger.
  • “We are very sorry that Mrs Kaihea was delayed in getting back to Vava’u which was due to aircraft serviceability,” Faletau said.
  • He said claims that an ex-government CEO was given favourable treatmentr were untrue.

READ MORE

Distraught passenger accused Real Tonga for favouritism after she was taken off plane

German passengers give US$16,000 to rescued fishermen

By
Philip Cass
-

Passengers on the German cruise liner Albatros have collected about $US16,000 (TP$35,000) for six Tongan fishermen rescued by the ship.

The men were picked up last Sunday after a RNZAF Orion located their drifting fishing boat about 400km north of Tonga.

The fishermen set off a distress beacon on Saturday morning.

The Albatros was asked to rescue the men.

RNZAF spokesman Air Commodore Darryn Webb said the Orion dropped including a radio, water and food  to the men, who had been without water for three days.

The fishing boat was taking in water as it wallowed in a swell.

The Albatros was en route to the  Bay of Islands in New Zealand,  but diverted 300km to pick up the men about 2.30pm on Saturday.

Radio New Zealand reported that the money collected by the passengers will be used to help cover the loss of their boat, which was abandoned.

Senior Search and Rescue Officer Ramon Davis said the fishing boat was unlikely to remain afloat beyond the weekend.

The men were reported to be in good health.

The main points

  • Passengers on the German cruise liner Albatros have collected about $US16,000 (TP$35,000) for six Tongan fishermen rescued by the ship.
  • The men were picked up last Sunday after a RNZAF Orion located their drifting fishing boat about 400km north of Tonga.
  • It is understood the money donated by the passengers will be used to help cover the loss of their boat, which was abandoned.

For more information

Rescued Tonga fishermen get big gift

Fishermen rescued after 3 days without water

Disturbing pictures show bloodied man lying after attack by locals

By
Kalino Latu
-

Disturbing pictures posted online had showed a man lying on the grass with blood on his body after he was allegedly beaten in Lakepa.

About five pictures had been shared on Facebook by users who claimed the photos were taken while the man was attacked.

The 24-year-old man from Kolomotuʻa  was taken to hospital for minor injuries before he was arrested and taken into Police custody, local media reported

It was alleged the man was beaten after he was captured at the Mormon Church complex in Lakepa with properties belonged to the church.

The attack on the suspect was made while the locals were waiting to Police, the reports said.

The man has history of psychiatric hospitalization, Police said.

After fruit pickers sent home, weeping mother claims daughter was abused

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Tongan mother’s claim that her 15 years-old daughter was sexually abused in Kerikeri has come after eight Tongan fruit pickers were sent home last Friday.

Radio New Zealand reported the chief executive of Tonga’s Internal Affairs ministry, ‘Ana Bing Fonua, as saying the young men were sent home after being accused of drinking alcohol, causing violence and being unable to carry out their tasks.

The Tongan Broadcasting Commission said one of the returning fruit pickers had denied the allegations.

Kaniva News understands the fruit pickers were sent home after an investigation found they had been involved in incidents involving the girl.

The woman told Kaniva News she was devastated when she learned her daughter had been abused.

“I cried heavily when I knew about what had happened to her,” the mother said.

“She was too young for that.”

The mother did not identify her daughter’s attacker, but said she was abused while mingling and drinking with the Tongan boys.

She said the incidents began in 2015 when a Tongan group from Niua arrived in Kerikeri.

“Some of those boys, including married men, came here and I cooked for them because they were relatives of mine,” the mother said.

“But they had friends that came with them and they started befriending my daughters and that was when the incident started.“

The group of pickers from Tofoa arrived last year and like other groups of Tongan workers, became aware of the girls.

It appears that many Tongans either visited the girls or invited them to parties.

The mother, her 15-year-old daughter and another daughter,18, were staying with a palangi man in his house in Kerikeri.

She said her daughters were friends with a group of about eight Maori girls.

The boys  began having meal with the girls  and then partied with them.

The fruit picking authorities became aware of the episode when it was noticed that some of the boys were often absent from work.

They warned them but the girls went to where the boys were boarding and continued their relationship there.

At one stage the mother left for Auckland, leaving her daughters and their friends behind.

She said she trusted the palangi because they were friends in Auckland before he moved to Kerikeri, but later regretted her decision.

The mother said she sought help from social workers, but a formal complaint to Police was cancelled after fears about how one of the girls involved would react.

When she was interviewed, the mother said she wished the incident could be stopped.

Sefita Hao’uli, the Tongan liaison officer who looked after the Tongan Recognized Seasonal Workers’ programme, reportedly pleaded with the fruit pickers to be disciplined and keep to the purpose of why they were coming here into New Zealand.

According to Radio New Zealand, the men came from Tofoa, Tongatapu.

The town officer there, ‘Usaia Fifita, said they had ruined the reputation of Tofoa and its people.

The main points

  • A Tongan mother’s claim that her 15 years-old daughter was sexually abused in Kerikeri has followed the deportation of eight young Tongan fruit pickers last Friday.
  • The woman told Kaniva News she was devastated when she learned her daughter had been abused.
  • Radio New Zealand reported the chief executive of Tonga’s Internal Affairs ministry, ‘Ana Bing Fonua, as saying the young men were accused of drinking alcohol, causing violence and being unable to carry out their tasks.
  • The Tongan Broadcasting Commission said one of the returning fruit pickers had denied the allegations.

Distraught passenger accused Real Tonga for favouritism after she was taken off plane

By
Kalino Latu
-

A distraught Tongan woman wept and sobbed in disappointment over the phone to her husband after she was told by Real Tonga her name was not on the passenger list.

Seini Kaihea’s husband Alex Kaihea claimed his wife was given a boarding pass, but was stopped as she was about to enter the aircraft and told her name was not on the list.

Seini suspected Real Tonga has given her seat to another man who had just purchased his ticket at the counter.

Alex said her wife saw the man, a former government CEO purchasing his ticket at the counter while they were in the queue.

He said his wife was surprised when she saw the man had boarded the plane after she was stopped.

He said he was devastated when his wife called him crying and explained what had happened to her at the Fu’amotu airport.

The Kaiheas, who live in Australia, flew from Brisbane to Tonga on December 17 on their way to Vava’u for a family reunion and to participate in the St Peter Chanel College 50th anniversary.

Alex Kaihea said their short holidaying was ruined by the incident.

His wife bought a return ticket on Real Tonga to Nuku’alofa on December 19, with a return ticket to  Vava’u on December 24 on the 10.45am flight.

Alex said his wife arrived at 9pm instead.

He said the airline’s failure to give any explanation of why they stopped his wife after she was issued with a boarding pass had hugely infuriated him.

He said when his wife went to the counter and asked why they stopped her from boarding the aeroplane the woman she spoke to looked irritated.

Seini Kaihea finally flew to Vava’u on an evening flight. Her husband  criticised the airline for not giving his wife lunch.

He said he was disappointed that there were repeated delays on the flight arrival time in Vava’u which the airline did not announce.

He said he repeatedly drove to the airport to receive his wife and only knew at the airport the flight was delayed.

He pleaded with the airline to stop practising nepotism and favouritism so that the airline services in Tonga could be improved.

We asked Real Tonga Airline for comments two weeks ago.

CEO Tevita Palu said he would respond to our queries.

We are still waiting for his response.

The main points

  • A distraught Tongan woman wept and sobbed in disappointment over the phone to her husband after she was told by Real Tonga her name was not on the passenger list.
  • Seini Kaihea’s husband Alex Kaihea claimed his wife was given a boarding pass, but was stopped as she was about to enter the aircraft and told her name was not on the list.
  • Seini suspected Real Tonga has given her seat to another man who had just purchased his ticket at the counter.
  • The Kaiheas, who live in Australia, flew from Brisbane to Tonga on December 17 on their way to Vava’u for a family reunion and to participate in the St Peter Chanel College 50th anniversary.

Passengers stranded at sea in Vava’u during bad weather

By
Alpha Latu
-

Eight people were rescued on Saturday in Vava’u after their boat the MV Elanoa 1 encountered a mechanical failure.

A local fishing vessel was sent to help on Friday but was forced to return to Neiafu due to rough seas.

It finally reached the distressed boat on Saturday and towed it safely back to Neiafu with all the passengers, Police said.

Both boats arrived at Neiafu at approximately 4:50pm.

On a separate note  Police in Nuku’alofa rescued a capsized boat after it  left  ‘Atatā for Nukuʻaofa carrying six people.

Police helped brought four passengers out of the water and transported them home while the skipper and another crew stayed to salvage their boat.

Rotary Club donates Emergency Response Kits to Tonga

By
Todd Henry
-

Rotary Club Nuku’alofa has placed a container with 298 Emergency Response Kits at the Scenic Hotel.

The kits, valued at total of NZ$178,000, were obtained through the Emergency Response Kit initiative and supported by Rotary Clubs New Zealand.

Two containers are currently under the management of Tonga’s National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) where they will remain on standby for distribution in the case of an emergency.

During Cyclone Ian in January 2014, Emergency Response Kits were distributed and used to support residents in Ha’apai in the days immediately following the destructive weather event.

The kits, packed in NZ by Rotary Club members and supporters, allow families to set up a basic shelter to protect them from the elements immediately following a disaster.

Each box also holds more than 60 items that could be vital for a family to survive an emergency situation.

The items include: two weatherproof tarpaulins, a hammer and nails, a folding shovel, fishing kit, hunting knife, machete, basic clothing, a cooking grate and Bombay pot, as well as bowls and mugs for serving food. A first-aid medical kit is packed with items such as water purifying tablets, soap, pain killers and antiseptic cream.

The Emergency Response Kit is packed in plastic container, which can be emptied, fitted with an included tap, and used to hold up to 78 litres of treated drinking water.

For additional details, please visit the Rotary Club of Nuku’alofa facebook page or visit www.erk.rotarysouthpacific.org to download a brochure.

Heavyweight Fa looks forward to fight with undefeated American boxer

By
Philip Cass
-

A year after turning professional, heavyweight New Zealand boxer Junior Fa is looking forward to his first bout under his new professional contract.

Fa will box on the undercard of undefeated WBC pugilist Deontay wilder on February 25.

The fight is part of a three year contract Fa has signed with promoter Lou Dibella, who has 70 fighters on his books.

Fa was DiBella’s first signing since a recent alliance with Australian boxing agent Brendan Bourke to seek out talent for him in the Asia Pacific region.

Under his new contract, Fa will step into the ring at last three times a year in the United States.

In his first match he will fight in Birmingham, Alabama, on the undercard of Wilder’s defence of his title against Gerald Washington.

Deontay has won all of his 37 fights and Fa has won all of his nine fights.

Fa, 27, will fight Keith Barr in the 18,000 seater Legacy Arena.

The 27-year-old, who has family in California and Utah, will fight American boxer Keith Barr over six rounds.

Fa, who has family in the United States, told Stuff he felt he needed to go overseas to reach his potential.

“It’s a big thing. This will be a new exciting experience for me,” he told Stuff.

“The class of boxing over there is a bit higher so it’s going to be really good.”

ESPN has reported that if all goes well in Alabama, Fa will return for fights in New Zealand in March and May.

Although New Zealand born and raised, Fa has represented Tonga internationally, winning a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India.

Fa’s father is from Ha’alaufuli in Vava’u while his mother is from Matangiake in Tongatapu.

The main points

  • A year after turning professional, heavyweight New Zealand boxer Junior Fa is looking forward to his first bout under his new professional contract.
  • Fa will box on the undercard of undefeated WBC pugilist Deontay wilder on February 25.
  • The fight is part of a three year contract Fa has signed with promoter Lou Dibella, who has 70 fighters on his books.
  • Under his new contract, Fa will step into the ring at last three times a year in the United States.

For more information

Kiwi boxing heavyweight Junior Fa to fight on Deontay Wilder’s world title undercard 

Heavyweight prospect Junior Fa to make American debut Feb. 25

Jnr Fa congratulates former rival Parker for world championship after his own victory 

Vavaʻu Police involved in US suspect’s escape to stand trial as accused granted extradition

By
Kalino Latu
-

Several Police officers in Vavaʻu will face a tribunal next week following a ministerial investigation into their involvement in the escape of American murder suspect Dean Jay Fletcher.

Tonga’s Police Minister Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa told Parliament yesterday the tribunal was expected to be held next Wednesday, February 15.

He said police wanted to know why the murder suspect had escaped.

Fletcher, 54, fled from Vava’u police in September while he awaiting a murder trial. He was accused of killing his wife, Patricia Linne Kearney.

Kearney was found beaten to death while the couple’s yacht, the Sea Oak, was anchored in the northern islands of Vava’u late in July.

Fletcher was recaptured by authorities in American Samoa a few days after he fled.

The Minister said Tonga has contacted the US authorities, asking them to escort Fletcher back to Tonga.

“The man was a soldier and it would be more secure for the US to bring him back for his trial here,”  Hon. Tuʻiʻonetoa said.

The Federal court in Honolulu last week allowed the extradition of Fletcher to Tonga.

The US Department of Justice requested his extradition after he was turned over to US Marshal Service agents in Pago Pago and taken to Honolulu.

US Magistrate Judge Kenneth Mansfield concluded that Fletcher could be sent back to Tonga for  each offence for which extradition was requested.

Under US Federal law, the US Secretary of State will maks the final decision to extradite Mr Fletcher, who remains in the custody of the US Marshal Service in Honolulu.

The main points

  • Several Police officers in Vavaʻu will face a tribunal next week following a ministerial investigation into their involvement in the escape of US murder suspect Dean Jay Fletcher.
  • The tribunal is expected to be held next Wednesday, February 15.
  • Fletcher, 54, fled from Vava’u police in September while he awaiting a murder trial.
  • He was accused of killing his wife, Patricia Linne Kearney, who was found beaten to death on their yacht in July.

For more information

Fugitive who fled Tonga detained in American Samoa (RNZI)

Tongan police quiet on how murder accused escaped

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