Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday sent a congratulatory message to Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, who was sworn in as Fiji's new president the same day.

Noting that Fiji was the first Pacific island country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, President Xi hailed the progress in the bilateral relationship, calling it an example of mutual respect and friendly cooperation between countries of different sizes.

China and Fiji have stood by each other in the COVID-19 pandemic, and their friendship and cooperation have deepened, he said.

Xi said he attaches great importance to the bilateral ties and stands ready to work with President Katonivere to boost all-round communications and cooperation between the two countries and open up new prospects for the China-Fiji comprehensive strategic partnership to better benefit the two peoples.

Katonivere is Fiji's sixth president since the South Pacific island nation gained independence from Britain in 1970.