Tonga values it growing relationship with Portugal. In June and July 2022 the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga, the Hon Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni, HE Mr Joao Gomes Cravinho, paid an Official Visit to Portugal on the occasion of the hosting in Lisbon of the United Nation’s Oceans Conference.
The Prime Minister and delegation was received at the VIP Terminal of Lisbon Airport by representatives of the State Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by Mr Anthony Bailey, Hon Consul General of His Majesty The King of Tonga in Portugal.
During the visit the Tongan Prime Minister held discussions with the highest authorities of the Portuguese state. On 26 June 2022 His Excellency Professor Marcelo Ribeiro de Sousa, President of the Portuguese Republic, hosted a state dinner at the Cascais Citadel Palace in Cascais. Prime Minister Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni also met during his visit with the Prime Minister of Portugal HE Dr Antonio Costa and the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Mr Joao Gomes Cravinho.
The Prime Minister led the Tongan delegation and spoke at the second United Nations Ocean Conference which took place from 27 June to 1 July 2022, at the Lisbon Altice Arena Convention Center in the Portuguese capital. This conference was co hosted by the governments of Portugal and Kenya and successively incentivised action to propel much needed science-based innovative solutions aimed at starting a new chapter of global ocean action. The Conference also stressed that the world faces an “Ocean Emergency” and that governments must turn the tide through focusing on issues related to the need to invest in sustainable ocean economies for food, renewable energy and livelihoods. The conference also highlighted the need to protect the oceans and the people whose lives and livelihoods depend on them from the impacts of climate change.
During the conference at which Tongan Prime Minister addressed delegates, he also met with the Secretary General of the United Nations, His Excellency António Guterres and with other heads of state and government attending the Conference.
