The hand-over ceremony of China-donated police vehicles was held at Fa’onelua Convention Center on September 18, 2024. Chinese Ambassador Liu Weimin, Tongan Minister of Meteorology, Environment, Information, Disaster Management, Energy, Climate Change, Communications and CERT, Honorable Fekita ’Utoikamanu, Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet Paula Ma’u, Police Commissioner Shane Mclennan as well as some senior officials and police senior officers attended the ceremony.

The 12 vehicles, provided by China’s Ministry of Public Security for the Tonga Police, demonstrates China’s sincere desire to support the effort of Tonga to build its capacity in law enforcement, said Ambassador Liu.

“China’s cooperation with Tonga is open and inclusive.” Ambassador Liu stressed, “we are willing and ready to work together with partners, including other Pacific Island countries, to focus on establishing friendly cooperative relationships, adopting more efficient modes of cooperation, and building a more professional law enforcement team, to ensure high-level security guarantees for high-quality development and achieving lasting security in the region.

Honorable Minister ’Utoikamanu expressed Tonga’s profound gratitude for the generous donation from China, affirming that it aligned with Tonga’s national development priorities and Tonga looked forward to increasing concrete cooperation with China.