Twenty-seven years ago today, on November 2, 1998 (September 14, 1998 lunar calendar), our country established diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Tonga at the ambassadorial level. The flag of Tonga The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Tang Jiaxuan, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense of the Kingdom of Tonga, Prince Ulukalala Ravaka Atta, signed the joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Tonga on behalf of their respective governments in Beijing on the morning of October 26, deciding that the two countries will recognize each other and establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level from November 2, 1998. The Chinese government recognizes the national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Tonga and supports the efforts of the Royal Government of Tonga to develop the national economy. The Royal Government of Tonga recognizes that there is only one China in the world. The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The two governments agreed to provide all necessary assistance for each other to establish embassies and perform their duties in their respective capitals in accordance with relevant regulations and international practices and on the basis of reciprocity. Zhu Bangzao, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, made a statement today to congratulate China and Tonga on the establishment of diplomatic relations. He said that both China and Tonga are developing countries and share common ground in many fields. The normalization of relations between China and Tonga will open up broad prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides in various fields, which is in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples It is believed that on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, the mutually beneficial and friendly cooperative relations between China and Tonga will surely continue to develop. The full text of the Joint Communiqué is as follows: Joint Communiqué between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations The Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga, in accordance with the interests and common aspirations of the two peoples, have decided that the two countries will recognize each other and establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level as of November 2, 1998. The two governments have agreed to develop friendly relations between the two countries on the basis of the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. The Government of the People's Republic of China The Government of the Kingdom of Tonga recognizes that there is only one China in the world, that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate Government representing the whole of China, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. The Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga have agreed to provide all necessary assistance for the establishment and performance of the functions of each other's embassies in their respective capitals in accordance with the provisions of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and international practice and on a reciprocal basis. The Government of the People's Republic of China on behalf of the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga Tang Jiaxuan (Signed) Ulukalala Ravaka Atta (Signed) Geographical location of Tonga in Beijing on October 26, 1998