Tongan King Taufa'ahau Tupou V said in Sanya on Thursday his country adhered to the one-China policy and supported the measures adopted to handle the incident in Lhasa.

King Tupou, who was here for a state visit as guest of Chinese President Hu Jintao, made the remarks during official talks in the island province of Hainan.

On the Taiwan issue, Tonga firmly adhered to the one-China policy, he said. It also supported the measures adopted by China to handle the incident that sabotaged social order in Lhasa, capital of the southwest Tibet Autonomous Region.

China's affairs can only be tackled by China and no interference from any foreign country was acceptable, the king said.

Hu thanked the king for his remarks.

This year marked the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Tonga and "opened a new chapter of bilateral ties," Hu said.

The two countries maintained frequent high-level exchanges and scored fruitful cooperation in economic and trade, agriculture, education, public health, infrastructure and human resources training.

There was also sound coordination in regional and global affairs, Hu added.

China has always considered Tonga an intimate friend and vowed to provide assistance within its capacity for the island country's economic construction, Hu said.

He said China adhered to a firm guideline to the growth of ties between the two nations, as well as other island countries in the Pacific.

King Tupou V commended the close commercial links between the two countries, in particular the sound cooperation in mineral resources exploration and development.

The Tongan government would continue to engage in the mutually-beneficial cooperation between the two countries in all fields, the king said.

Before the talks, Hu hosted a red-carpet ceremony to welcome the king and his delegation.

During his stay, King Tupou is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the annual meeting of Boao Forum for Asia, a non-governmental, non-profit forum that aims to promote exchanges and cooperation in Asia and the world.

(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2008)