NUKU’ALOFA (Pacnews) — Tonga’s finance minister, Siosiua ’Utoikamanu, has invited Chinese officials in a bid to seek assistance with the rebuilding of Nuku’alofa following last November’s riots.
The Tongan government said Utoikamanu has returned from China where he met senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce, the China EXIM Bank, the foreign ministry, and the China Civil Engineering Construction Co.
He said the initial responses indicated a willingness from the Chinese government to consider Tonga’s request for reconstruction assistance.
During the riot, many businesses owned by Chinese people were targeted, prompting them to seek shelter on the Chinese embassy premises.
The Chinese government sent a plane to evacuate about 200 people from Tonga.