At the end of May, Xiamen, on the southeast coast of the Chinese mainland in Fujian Province, hosted the Third Chinese mainland-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, chaired two days of talks with delegations from 11 Pacific Island countries, exploring new pathways to regional cooperation.
Among the voices echoing through Fujian’s halls was Semisi Latu, a young Tongan student at Beijing Language and Culture University. Tonga, an archipelago of roughly 170 islands with just over 100,000 residents, cherishes its traditions of mutual respect, sharing, humility, and loyalty—values Latu lives by every day.
“My first encounter with the Chinese mainland’s culture was in 2011,” Latu recalls. “From Chinese films and pop music to spicy Sichuan dishes, I’ve fallen in love with the energy and creativity here.”
As ministers mapped out trade, education, and infrastructure initiatives, Latu’s message highlighted the power of youth-led exchange. “I hope relationships between the Chinese mainland and Tonga will grow smoothly, delivering fruitful outcomes and mutually beneficial cooperation,” he says.
With young voices like Latu’s guiding the way, Chinese mainland–Tonga ties look set to deepen across cultural, educational, and economic lines—showing that even the vast Pacific can feel closer when communities connect.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
