Tonga signed a protocol with the World Trade Organization (WTO) Thursday in Hong Kong to accede to the global trading system, becoming the WTO's 150th member.

Its membership will be complete after its legislature ratifies the agreement and it will become a formal WTO member 30 days after the ratification.

The protocol was signed by Fred Vaka'uta Sevele, Tonga's minister of labor, commerce and industries, and Pascal Lamy, director-general of the WTO.

Lamy said all the WTO members congratulated the accession of Tonga, which is on its way to becoming WTO's 150th member.

He said Tonga is the WTO's fourth Pacific Island member and it's joining of the WTO is expected to speed up Tonga's modernization drive.

Sevele, wearing a red tie for celebrating his country's entry into the WTO, said after the signing ceremony that Tonga is very glad to be a new member of the WTO and will implement commitments to the WTO.

He said he hoped that the accession into the WTO would bring benefits to citizens of his country, pledging to be a good member of WTO.

He said he felt surprised that so many journalists attended the signing ceremony and was very pleased to share the joy with them.

Tonga, a South Pacific island country, has an area of about 700 square kilometers and a population of more than 100,000. Agriculture is the country's main economic sector.

Source: Xinhua