On November 25, witnessed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and King Tupou VI of the Kingdom of Tonga, Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and representative of the Tongan government, Minister of Health Siale Akauola, signed the Framework Agreement on Enhanced Economic Partnership (EEPA) in Beijing.

Under the EEPA, the two sides agreed to engage in flexible and pragmatic negotiations on specific areas, establishing institutional arrangements to further expand bilateral trade. The two sides also agreed to support Tonga in attracting investment, accelerating industrialization and agricultural modernization and enabling its deeper integration into global industrial and supply chain cooperation.

The signing of EEPA represents a significant step in  implementing the guiding principles from the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the plenary sessions of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and in expanding high-standard opening up. It is also the latest progress in expanding China’s network of high-standard free trade areas. It fully demonstrates the firm resolve of the two sides to promote free trade and open cooperation through equal-footed consultation. The EEPA and the follow-up negotiated outcomes will provide long-term, stable, and predictable institutional guarantee for bilateral cooperation, substantially enrich the China-Tonga comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development, further consolidate political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation and elevate bilateral economic and trade relations to a new level.