China’s Ambassador to Fiji Huang Yong says the visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Fiji today is of strategic importance and will spur bilateral relations.

Huang says Fiji is an important country in the South Pacific and the first in the region to forge diplomatic ties with Beijing.

Ambassador Huang says China-Fiji relations have progressed steadily and demonstrated increasingly positive signs of growth in recent years in politics, economy and trade, people-to-people exchanges, ushering in a new historic opportunity of growth in their bilateral ties.

He says the two sides have witnessed continuous growth in trade and investment.

China has assisted in the construction of hospitals, housing, hydro-power stations, agricultural projects and road renovation, playing a concrete role in improving the livelihood of the island people.

China has provided annual government scholarships, humanitarian medical services, and various training programs to the island nation.

Huang says China and Fiji have maintained close coordination in international and regional affairs.

China supports Fiji to play its part in regional cooperation, and Fiji has kept good communication and coordination with China on major international issues such as climate change.

President Xi arrives in Nadi this afternoon on a state visit.

He will also meet with leaders of Pacific island countries that have diplomatic ties with China.