SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong will travel to the remote Pacific island of Tonga on Friday, days after her Chinese counterpart visited and discussed Tonga’s high debts to Beijing, Tonga’s government said.
Tonga’s Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni briefed local reporters on the visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday, saying six agreements had been signed.
He confirmed discussions were held with Wang about Tonga’s loan from China, a statement issued by the prime minister’s office said.
“Hon Hu’akavameiliku also confirmed that Australia’s new Foreign Minister Penny Wong will be in Nuku’alofa on Friday on her first official visit to the Kingdom,” the statement said, referring to Sovaleni.
Wong’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Tom Hogue)
