Roads reconstructed with China loan

By Tevita Motulalo

THERE are now completed sections of roads in Nuku’alofa reconstructed with a RMB 291 million loan from China.

China’s Ambassador to Tonga HE Mr. Wang Donghua officially handed over to Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu three completed sections of the 64 road segments throughout Tonga reconstructed with the loan.

He commended the initiative- the “National Road Improvement Project”- will assist the economic recovery of Tonga through safer and quicker access for business and customers, but also through the provision of jobs and activity by the project itself.

Mr. Wang says China has engaged in extensive road construction in the last thirty years, and was one of the key contributions to its economic development.

He says that like China, Tonga is a developing country.

Roads reconstructed with China loan

© Tevita Motulalo

Workers on Tupoulahi Road, near Janful International Dateline Hotel

There are now completed sections of roads in Nuku’alofa reconstructed with a RMB 291 million loan from China.

China’s Ambassador to Tonga HE Mr. Wang Donghua officially handed over to Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu three completed sections of the 64 road segments throughout Tonga reconstructed with the loan.

He commended the initiative- the “National Road Improvement Project”- will assist the economic recovery of Tonga through safer and quicker access for business and customers, but also through the provision of jobs and activity by the project itself.

Mr. Wang says China has engaged in extensive road construction in the last thirty years, and was one of the key contributions to its economic development.

Tongatapu 10 Representative Semisi Tapueluelu inspects the parts of the project to his constituency

He says that like China, Tonga is a developing country.

About 130 km of roads throughout Tongatapu, Vava’u, Ha’apai, and ‘Eua is to be reconstructed using the loan, and set to be completed by 2013.

Wang says he hopes major infrastructure developments like the NRIP, will benefit Tonga as it did China.

Hon. Vaipulu responded, “The project will continue to foster the warm relations between the two countries. We are looking forward for closer and long term cooperation.”

“Poor help the poor”: $5m. Economic cooperation agreement signed with China

© Tevita Motulalo

Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano and PRC Ambassador to Tonga HE Wang Donghua, seal the agreement with a handshake at Foreign Affairs Office. Photo: PMO

A grant of $5.6 million (RMB 20 million) from China is to help the Tonga’s economic and technical development.

The grant is a token from China following His Majesty George Tupou V’s recent visit, according to China’s Ambassador to Tonga H.E. Mr Wang Donghua.

Vice-President Xi Jinping informed His Majesty that China is ready with assistance to economic development projects agreed upon by the two countries.

Examples of past such projects include direct military assistance to Tonga Defence, Fa’onelua Convention Centre, the reconstruction loan for the CBD, and reconstruction of Wellington-Ngu Hospital.

Other projects include Vaipua bridge reconstruction in Vava’u, Super health-centres at Mu‘a and Vaini, Tonga and Ha’apai High Schools construction and maintenance, and more than a hundred kilometres of road refurbishment and maintenance throughout the islands.

The “Agreement of Economic and Technical Cooperation” was signed by Prime Minister Lord Tu‘ivakano and H.E. Mr Wang at Foreign Affairs head office in Nuku’alofa last Friday.

Mr. Wang added, “The amount involved in the projects is not big but is genuine with our whole heart, and I perceive the cooperation between our two countries as the way in which friends help friends, and the poor help the poor.”