As Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi chaired the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Xiamen this week, one Tongan student's story captured the spirit of cross-cultural connection. Semisi Latu, a 100,000-strong island nation representative studying in Beijing, shared his vision for deeper cooperation with China through a lens of movie nights, pop music playlists, and shared values.
📽️ 'My first Chinese film was Hero – the colors, the storytelling! Now I binge The Wandering Earth,' laughs Semisi, whose journey began with a 2011 cultural exchange program. From Peking duck cravings to stanning Mandopop stars, he's become an unofficial ambassador for Tonga's traditions of humility and mutual respect.
🌺 With 11 Pacific nations attending the Fujian meetings, Semisi highlights what's at stake: 'It's not just infrastructure projects. When we share kava ceremonies or learn Mandarin together, that's how trust grows.' His dream? A world where Tongan dance troupes tour Shanghai while Chinese tech helps protect his homeland's coral reefs.
As Wang Yi emphasized 'win-win cooperation' at the summit, young bridge-builders like Semisi remind us that diplomacy isn't just about treaties – it's TikTok duets with classmates and comparing island sunsets over WeChat. The future of China-Pacific relations? Looks like it's got a killer soundtrack 🎶.
