Wellington - China's ambassador to Tonga has denied a claim made at a broadcasting conference in the South Pacific island state that the Beijing government suppresses freedom of the media, Radio New Zealand International reported on Thursday.

Ambassador Fan Quijing walked out of the British Commonwealth Broadcasting Association's regional conference in Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa during the opening address by the organization's vice-president Mano Wikranamayake of Sri Lanka.

Wellington - Tonga's King George V was crowned Friday in a lavish ceremony in Nuku'alofa, capital of his South Pacific island state.

The king, 60, was crowned on a 2.5-metre-high golden throne before 1,000 guests at the Centenary Free Wesleyan Church as bells rang and a 21-gun salute was sounded, Radio New Zealand reported from Nuku'alofa.

King George succeeded his father who died in September 2006 after ruling for 41 years but his coronation was delayed because of pro-democracy riots two months later which left eight people dead and much of the capital's business centre looted and burned.