assistance

Puna said like the rest of the Forum family, he is shocked by the volcanic eruptions in Tonga.

“Even from the relative safety of Suva, we could feel and hear the eruptions which rocked the Kingdom and large parts of the region to its core.”

Puna said he is anxious about the safety and welfare of the people of Tonga and pledge the resources of the Pacific Islands Forum to Tonga.

He will try and speak with the Prime Minister once communications have been restored.

Wang made the remarks at the first China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Beijing via video link.

He said the bilateral relationship between China and the Pacific Island countries has shown a good development momentum, and the comprehensive strategic partnership has continued to deepen.

Relations between the two sides are based on mutual respect and equity, Wang said.

AUD1.75 million of this funding is Australia’s annual budget support to the achievements of the JPRM, and AUD 5 million is additional budget support from Australia's Fiscal Crisis Window.

The funding will go towards avoiding long-term and unsustainable debt, securing a strong economy for Tonga’s future.

Australia is supporting the Government of Tonga and Tonga Power Ltd continue to upgrade power networks in Nuku’alofa to be safer, more reliable and climate resilient.

The assistance is part of its sector initiatives to increase household income and national earnings as part of the Government COVID-19 economic recovery.

“The programme includes financial support for rural farmers who are part of the Government Cooperative Society Empowerment Program (FCSEP), helping farmers in Tongatapu, Vava‘u, Ha’apai and ‘Eua with access to finance that will fund agricultural inputs to increase production of marketable crops and increase our exports to improve family livelihoods” said Prime Minister Reverend Dr. Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa in a statement.

The severe cyclone swept through Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga.

Dozens are believed to have died across the region from the storm which destroyed many homes, buildings and food crops.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his deep solidarity with the people of the Pacific as they faced the impact of the cyclone, along with other climate-related challenges, as well as the coronavirus pandemic, which added a worrying new dimension to existing vulnerabilities, according to a statement.

The New Zealand High Commissioner, Tiffany Babington and the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa signed three agreements for NZ$8 million to support these priorities Tuesday.

Under the NZ$3 million 2-year Tonga Education Support activity, New Zealand will partner with the Tonga Ministry of Education and Training to raise the professional capability of teachers and principals.

Australia has already made a substantial contribution in aid following last month's devastating cyclone which caused widespread destruction across the main island of Tongatapu and on 'Eua.

The minister of international development and the Pacific, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells said she and the Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who have travelled to Tonga, want to help the country to bolster its resilience to major climatic events.

The projects include restoring emergency medical services for Ha’apai and ‘Eua with the purchase of an ambulance vehicle for each island.

Radio Tonga reports another project involves installing an ice making machine for ‘Uiha Island to boost their fishery sector.

Funding will also be provided for the construction of four classrooms for the technical course students of Tonga College ‘Atele.

The Matangi Tonga reported that the purpose of the visit was to further promote co-operation between the two countries.

Both Tonga's Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva and the Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly, Lord Tu'ivakano told the delegation that Tonga was overwhelmed with China's bilateral assistance to their country's development.

As well as ongoing aid programmes, China's assistance to Tonga includes various construction works in Nuku'alofa, the construction of St George Palace, and the preparation for the 2019 Pacific Games.

The island group was affected by the close passage of Cyclone Winston on Tuesday 16 February and again on Friday 19 February.

While there has been damage to agricultural food crops, some schools, military camp and hospital, Vava’u has emerged without significant damage to major infrastructure.