On January 30, Zhang Donggang, secretary of the Party Committee of Renmin University of China (RUC), led a delegation to Tonga. The delegation held talks with the National University of Tonga on establishing an inter-university partnership. 

Zhang also attended the launch ceremony of the training program themed “The Global Significance of Chinese Modernization,” jointly organized by RUC and the National University of Tonga at the Chinese embassy in Tonga, and delivered the opening lecture. 

In his lecture “Insights from Chinese Modernization for the Modernization of Global South Countries,” Zhang framed modernization as a shared aspiration and a common goal for Global South countries. He stressed that modernization paths should respect differences in national conditions, cultures, and development stages, and be grounded in independent innovation and each country’s cultural traditions and foundations. 

Looking ahead, he outlined RUC’s plan to deepen educational exchanges and cooperation with universities in the South Pacific, including Tonga. By building a strategic cooperation framework, RUC aims to strengthen the Global South academic community through knowledge co-creation, think-tank collaboration, and talent cultivation.

Liu Weimin, China’s ambassador to Tonga, stated that China and Tonga are comprehensive strategic partners founded on mutual respect and shared development, with bilateral relations maintaining strong momentum through joint efforts. 

Mo'ale 'Otunuku, Tonga’s minister of education and training, warmly welcomed the RUC delegation and expressed hope that the training program would  expand opportunities for deeper cooperation and coordinated development between RUC and the National University of Tonga.

Masasso Pāunga, president of the National University of Tonga, remarked that the lectures enabled participants to draw valuable experience and profound insights from China’s development practices.

Siamelie Latu, secretary-general of the Tonga–China Friendship Association, noted that China’s peaceful rise carries great and far-reaching global significance, injecting strong confidence and momentum into the independent development of Global South countries.

Wang Wen, dean of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies and the School of Global Leadership at RUC, stated that the lecture marked another important effort by RUC to contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions to global governance and national development.

The Renmin University of China–Tonga National University themed training program on “The Global Significance of Chinese Modernization” focuses on core issues in contemporary China’s development.

The program offers a series of thematic courses covering key areas such as Chinese modernization, poverty alleviation and common prosperity, ecological civilization, the digital economy and AI empowerment, the development of philosophy and social sciences, development and cooperation among Global South countries, and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

By showcasing China’s achievements in modernization from multiple perspectives, the program promotes exchanges of development experience among Chinese and Tongan scholars and students, and contributes wisdom and insights toward building a community with a shared future for humanity. 

During the visit, the two sides also held in-depth discussions on jointly exploring the establishment of a South Pacific environmental monitoring data-sharing platform, deepening collaborative research in environmental protection, and selecting Tongan students to participate in programs at Renmin University of China’s School of Global Leadership.

Faculty and students from the National University of Tonga, along with participants from 14 campuses across 12 countries of the University of the South Pacific, attended the lecture both on-site and online.