Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday sent a message of congratulations on the reopening of Kiribati's Embassy in China.
The two countries resumed diplomatic relations in September last year, following Kiribati's decision to sever "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan and adhere to the one-China principle.
Kiribati's President Taneti Maamau paid a state visit to China in January, during which the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative.
"The bilateral relationship has enjoyed sustained and rapid growth, and produced fruitful outcomes in a wide range of areas," Wang said in the message. "New historical progress is recorded every day."
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) and Kiribati's President Taneti Mamau sign documents to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries at the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, September 27, 2019. /Xinhua
He noted that the two countries have supported each other in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating their "deep friendship."
"Guided by the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China will continue to actively support Kiribati in combating COVID-19 and work with Kiribati to jointly safeguard global and regional public health security, and uphold multilateralism, fairness and justice," he said.
"Past progress shows that the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Kiribati meets the trend of history and our time, and serves the fundamental interests of our two countries and peoples," Wang stressed.