China is ready to work with Tonga to expand cooperation to benefit the peoples of the two countries, said President Hu Jintao on Friday in a meeting with Tongan Prime Minister Feleti Vaka'uta Sevele.

 

Hu said China and Tonga have maintained healthy and developing relations based on mutual respect, equality and reciprocity since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in the 1990s, and the cooperation in trade, culture and health has been fruitful.

 

The two countries have also remained coordination in international organizations such as the United Nations and World Health Organization, Hu added.

 

Sevele expressed gratitude for China's assistance, saying Tonga adheres to one-China policy.

 

He vowed to upgrade the cooperation with China as well as the friendship between the two peoples.

 

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, also met with Sevele on Friday.

 

Sevele started his seven-day China trip on Tuesday morning. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with him on Thursday.

 

Besides Beijing, Sevele will also visit Shaanxi Province in northwest China and Heilongjiang Province in northeast China.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2007)