King Tupou VI of the Kingdom of Tonga visits the Hainan Binglanggu (Betelnut Valley) Li and Miao Cultural Heritage Park. [Photo by Song Guoqiang/Hainan Daily]

King Tupou VI of the Kingdom of Tonga visited Hainan province on March 4 and 5 as part of his state visit to China from Feb 28 to March 8.

He went to Sanya Yalong Bay International Rose Valley, Hainan Binglanggu (Betelnut Valley) Li and Miao Cultural Heritage Park, Sanya Qianguqing Scenic Spot and some other sites to learn about Hainan's booming tourism, agriculture and infrastructure construction. He also experienced unique Li and Miao ethnic culture and customs. 

Although it was his first visit to Hainan, King Tupou VI was immediately attracted by the climate, landscape and culture. He felt he was back home when he was in Hainan because not only the climate but also the tattoos and bamboo pole dances of the Li ethnic group are similar to those of Tonga.

King Tupou VI of Tonga is attracted by sugar-figures blowing at the Sanya Qianguqing Scenic Spot. [Photo by Song Guoqiang/Hainan Daily]

He thought Hainan and Tonga have many things in common and their development concepts correspond. He wants to bring back the development experiences learnt in Hainan and choose some professionals to further study and communicate with experts here. King Tupou VI also expressed his strong willingness to seek mutual cooperation in such areas as tourism, agriculture, fisheries, trade, scientific research and culture. 

Since 2004, the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences has organized several international training courses for Tonga. Experts were sent to the Pacific island nation to understand the country's current conditions and to introduce Hainan's new tropical agricultural techniques, equipment, horticulture, beverage production technologies, and tropical crop pest control technologies.