SUVA, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Samoa's Acting Prime Minister Tuitama Dr Leao Talalelei Tuitama lauded on Friday the close and friendly relations between the South Pacific Island nation and China over the past decades.
Speaking at a reception in celebration of the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in Apia, capital of Samoa, Tuitama, also Samoa's Minister of Health, said that it is almost 43 years since Samoa and China established diplomatic relations and during this time the two countries have developed close and friendly relations.
Samoa's engagement with China since 1975 remains underpinned by its support and recognition of the one China policy, he said.
"The relationship from government level filtering down to people to people interactions has yielded investment opportunities and continually social and economic benefits for our people," he said.
For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Samoa Wang Xuefeng said that the past year witnessed with great pleasure the constant development of China-Samoa relations, and deepening mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
There have been frequent high level visits between China and Samoa, he said, adding that since the beginning of this year, there have been gratifying results in terms of exchanges and cooperation in all fields between Samoa and China.
The ambassador said that China and Samoa have also deepened cultural and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.
