On this day 47 years ago, on October 1, 1978 (August 29, 1978 lunar calendar), Tuvalu became independent. Tuvalu's beautiful scenery Tuvalu is a country located in the South Pacific Ocean, consisting of 9 ring-shaped coral island groups. The highest point in the country is only 4.5 meters above sea level. The land area is about 26 square kilometers, and the population is only 10,000 people. It is the second smallest island country in the world after Nauru, and the fourth smallest country in the world (only higher than the Vatican, Monaco and Nauru). Due to the extremely low terrain, the continuously rising temperature and sea level seriously threaten Tuvalu, leaving the country facing the dilemma of abandonment. Tuvalu is one of the least developed countries in the world (underdeveloped countries) and the second least populous country in the world (only higher than the Vatican). It currently has diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Tuvalu has barren land and few natural resources. Its main industries are fishing and tourism, but because of its remoteness, only a few tourists arrive every year. Its main income comes from foreign support, so it relies on the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and other countries to provide financial assistance for many years. The sale of stamps is also one of Tuvalu's financial sources. History In 1568, the Spanish navigator Mendania Denella first discovered Nui Island, and then other islands were discovered one after another. Because of the inhabitants of the eight island groups, it was named Tuvalu, which means "Group of Eight Islands". For a long time after that, Western countries did not pay attention to the place. ( The islands were first discovered by Europeans in 1764 by John Byron.) In 1819, a British fleet rediscovered the island and named it the Ellis Islands after the owner. After that, countries carried out whaling activities in this area. Between 1850 and 1875, due to the large number of islanders captured by Western colonists as slaves on plantations in nearby Fiji, Samoa, South America and Australia, and the spread of European diseases on the island, the island's native population fell sharply, from 20,000 to 3,000. In 1877, the British established the High Commission for the Western Pacific, and the Ellis Islands and other islands were placed under its jurisdiction. In 1892, it became a British protectorate and was administratively merged with the Gilbert Islands in the north. In 1916, the United Kingdom officially declared the Gilbert and Ellis Islands as a direct colony, known as the "British Gilbert and Ellis Islands Colony", which was administered by the British High Commissioner in the Western Pacific. 1942-1943 The Gilbert Islands were occupied by Japan. The administration of the Gilbert and Ellis Islands was temporarily moved to Funafuti. The Ellis Islands established a local government. In 1971, the Ellis Islands made a request to separate from the Gilbert Islands. In May 1974, a parliament was established to replace the original legislative committee, and the parliament elected a chairperson and minister. In a referendum held in August and September, more than 90% voted in favor of the Ellis Islands separating from the Gilbert Islands and becoming a separate country. In October 1975, the Ellis Islands were separated from Gilbert and became a separate British dependency and changed to the old name Tuvalu; Gilbert and the Deputy Governor of the Ellis Islands became the British Commissioner of Tuvalu. In January 1976, Tuvalu was completely separated from the Gilbert Islands. An independent constitution was finalized at a conference held in London in February 1978, and self-government was implemented in June. On October 1, Tuvalu declared independence, and still regarded the British monarch as the head of state. Remain in the Commonwealth and become a special member of the Commonwealth. Toalipi Rauti served as Prime Minister. In early 1979, a friendship treaty was signed with the United States (effective in September 1983). According to this treaty, the United States gave up its territorial claims to the four small islands in the south of Tuvalu, and Tuvalu's territory was confirmed. In the same year, "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan were established by Taiwan's "ambassador" to Tonga who also served as "ambassador" to Tuvalu. Tomasi Puapua was succeeded as Prime Minister in September 1981. Puapua was re-elected as Prime Minister in September 1985. In February 1986, Tuvalu refused to visit the French warship due to dissatisfaction with France's continued nuclear tests in French Polynesia. In June, the Constitution was amended, and the Governor-General lost his veto power to make recommendations to the government. In the same year, it was listed as one of the least developed countries by the United Nations. In 1987, the United Kingdom decided to reduce its budgetary assistance to Tuvalu by 100,000 Australian dollars per year. To solve the difficulties caused, the Tuvalu government established the Tuvalu Trust Fund in June of the same year. In June 1988, Tuvalu's Prime Minister Poipoua visited China with the leaders of the South Pacific island countries and was met by Premier Li Peng. In July 1990, Tuvalu demanded compensation from the United States and the United States for the damage to Tuvalu's farmland and the construction of an airport during World War II. In June 1992, Prime Minister Penue attended the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Brazil and called for measures to prevent the impact of the greenhouse effect, otherwise it would deter investors from coming to Tuvalu. He expressed disappointment with the position of the United States at the conference. In March 1997, Tuvalu was hit by a cyclone, and the International Committee of the Red Cross of China donated 10,000 US dollars to Tuvalu. In April 1999, Parliament passed a motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Paeniu and elected Ionatana Ionatana as Prime Minister (1999.4-2000 died of illness). In September 2000, Tuvalu joined the United Nations. On December 8, Prime Minister Ionatana died suddenly in New Zealand. On February 23, 2001, after secret elections in the Tuvalu Parliament, Faimalaga Luka was elected as the new Prime Minister (2001.2.23 -12). On November 15, the Tuvalu government announced that "efforts to combat sea level rise have failed" and that Tuvalu's residents would evacuate the islands in the face of sea level rise. New Zealand agreed to accept an annual quota of evacuees, but Australia rejected the Tuvalu government's request. In December, the Tuvalu Parliament passed a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Faimalaga Luca, with Koloa Talake as Prime Minister (2001.12-2002). In July 2002, Saufatu Sopoanga was elected Prime Minister and Speaker Saloa Tula Tuya. In August, a government was formed: Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saufatou Sopoaga, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works, Communications and Transport Mattia Toafa, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Industry Bikeni Penyo, Minister of Interior and Rural Development Otinelu Tausi, Minister of Education, Sports and Health Alesana Seluca, Minister of Natural Resources, Environment, Energy and Tourism Samklu Aiteo. On September 16, 2010, general elections were held, with 26 candidates competing for 15 seats. Five of the 15 MPs who won were newly elected. On September 29, Parliament voted to elect Mattia Toafa as Prime Minister and form the new government. Deputy Prime Minister Enel Sopoanga. On January 14, 2011, people held demonstrations in the capital, demanding that the finance minister resign and step down. The government issued an emergency order to restrict gatherings so that the demonstrations would not "endanger the political stability of the country". Relations with China In 1972, the Taiwan authorities established "diplomatic relations" with Tuvalu. In June 1988, Tuvalu's Prime Minister Puapua visited China with the leaders of the South Pacific island countries, and Premier Li Peng met. In March 1997, when Tuvalu was hit by a typhoon, the International Committee of the Red Cross of China donated 10,000 US dollars to Tuvalu. In 1998, the bilateral trade volume between China and Tuvalu was 81,000 US dollars, all of which were our exports and no imports. In 2000 and 2001, the bilateral trade volume between China and Tuvalu was zero. In 2007, the bilateral trade volume between China and Tuvalu was 6.70 million US dollars. Our exports were 6.64 million US dollars, and our imports were 40,000 US dollars. The beautiful scenery of Tuvalu's rusty children's abandoned ships is countless. Locals are distributing goods. Small airport