During June 2026, Comendador Anthony Bailey, Hon Consul-General of His Majesty The King of Tonga to the Portuguese Republic a series of bilateral meetings with ambassadors accredited to the Portuguese Republic.<\/p>\n
Tonga and S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe<\/p>\n
On 8 June 2026, the Hon Consul-General met His Excellency Esterline Gon\u00e7alves G\u00e9nero, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe \u00a0at the Embassy of S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe in Lisbon.<\/p>\n
The meeting provided an excellent opportunity to exchange views on matters of mutual interest and to discuss the many similarities between the Kingdom of Tonga and S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe. Although the two countries have not yet established formal diplomatic relations, both are small island states whose geography, economies and development priorities present many common opportunities and challenges.<\/p>\n
Separated by thousands of kilometres, the two nations nevertheless share rich maritime traditions and a close dependence upon the sustainable management of their oceans and marine resources. Both countries face comparable challenges arising from climate change, rising sea levels, environmental protection, fisheries management, biodiversity conservation and the development of sustainable blue economies. As island states, they also share a strong interest in ensuring that the voices of Small Island Developing States continue to be heard within the United Nations and other multilateral organisations.<\/p>\n
Discussions reflected upon these shared priorities and explored opportunities for developing closer contacts in the future. The meeting highlighted the value of dialogue between island nations from different regions of the world and recognised that many of the issues confronting Tonga in the Pacific are equally relevant to S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe in the Gulf of Guinea.<\/p>\n
The Honorary Consul-General thanked Ambassador G\u00e9nero for the warm welcome extended to him and expressed his hope to further ties with the Portuguese speaking African state which in gained independence from Portugal in 1975.<\/p>\n
Official Page: Embassy of the Democratic Republic of S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe<\/a><\/p>\n #TongaSaoTomeAndPrincipe #IslandStates #BlueEconomy #ClimateAction #OceanGovernance #Portugal #Diplomacy<\/p>\n Tonga and Pakistan<\/p>\n On 15 June 2026, the Hon Consul-General Comendador Anthony Bailey attended a luncheon hosted by Her Excellency Aisha Farooqui, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Portuguese Republic, at Restaurante Villa Latina in Lisbon.<\/p>\n The luncheon provided an opportunity to reaffirm the longstanding friendship between the Kingdom of Tonga and Pakistan and to exchange views on matters of bilateral and international interest. Discussions focused on regional developments, cooperation within the Commonwealth and the United Nations, and the importance of maintaining close diplomatic dialogue between countries from different regions of the world.<\/p>\n The Kingdom of Tonga and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan established diplomatic relations on 30 March 1976 and have enjoyed over five decades of warm and cordial relations. Since then, both countries have maintained regular diplomatic contacts and cooperated through international organisations in support of peace, sustainable development and international cooperation.<\/p>\n Particular recognition was given to Pakistan’s important diplomatic efforts in promoting dialogue and regional stability during the recent tensions involving the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America.<\/p>\n The meeting also followed an important milestone in bilateral relations earlier this year when H.E. Dr Faisal Aziz Ahmed, Pakistan’s newly accredited High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Tonga, resident in Wellington, formally presented his Letters of Credence to His Majesty King Tupou VI at the Royal Palace in Nuku\u02bbalofa during Diplomatic Week. During his visit to the Kingdom, the High Commissioner also paid courtesy calls on the Prime Minister, Lord Fakafanua, HRH Crown Prince Tupouto\u02bba \u02bbUlukalala, Minister for His Majesty’s Armed Forces and His Majesty’s Diplomatic Services, together with other senior members of the Tongan Government. The accreditation represented a further strengthening of the excellent relations enjoyed between Tonga and Pakistan.<\/p>\n The Hon Consul-General expressed his sincere appreciation to Ambassador Farooqui, who previously served as Ambassador to Ireland, for her kind hospitality and looked forward to continuing the excellent relationship between tborth diplomatic missions.<\/p>\n