Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the third China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum which opened on Monday in Apia, the capital of Samoa.

In his congratulatory letter, Xi pointed to a meeting with leaders of Pacific Island countries in Papua New Guinea in November 2018, which led to an agreement to elevate the relationship between China and Pacific Island countries to a comprehensive strategic partnership based on mutual respect and common development.

Xi emphasized that hosting the third China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum is an important consensus he reached with the leaders from Pacific Island countries. He hopes that the two parties could strengthen dialogue, communication and cooperation through this platform, and achieve more development.