Chinese Gov't to complete construction of Forum facilities in Tonga

Tonga's cancellation of its hosting of the Pacific Islands Forum meeting will not affect the building of a new conference hall and the upgrading of the Janfull International Dateline Hotel in Tonga.

According to Thursday's report from Matangi Tonga Online, a local news service, Li Haibin, an attach at the Chinese Embassy in Nuku'alofa said that the Chinese Government would continue with the construction to honor its agreement with the Government of Tonga to build a 1 million U.S. dollars conference hall and for a soft loan to renovate the Janfull International Hotel.

"We have to implement it whether the Forum meeting is postponed or not because it is a promise by the Chinese Government", said Li.

The construction of the 900 square meter conference hall at the Fa'onelua Garden by a Chinese contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction corporation, started in early June and was expected to be completed by early October.

The new conference hall consists of one main conference hall, offices, meeting rooms, a lounge, bathroom facilities, and areas fitted with a built-in sound system as well internet facilities.

The General Manager of the Janfull International Hotel Lucy Niu was disappointed that she would miss out on a 100 percent occupancy expected for the Forum, said Matangi Tonga Online.

Source: Xinhua