Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will pay an official visit to China from August 12 to 21 at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced Friday.

During the visit, leaders of the two countries will have in-depth exchanges of views on China-Fiji relations and important issues of mutual interest, according to the ministry.

Fiji is the first Pacific Island country to have established diplomatic ties with China.

China has received several leaders of Pacific Island countries this year and Rabuka is yet another Pacific Island country leader set to visit China, said the ministry. "This speaks to the close relations between China and the South Pacific region."

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Over the 49 years of diplomatic ties, China-Fiji relations have continued to make new progress, with fruitful outcomes in exchanges and cooperation in various areas, bringing benefit to the peoples of both countries.

Through this visit, China hopes to take the comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development to a new level and work with Fiji to build an even closer community with a shared future between China and Pacific Island countries, said the ministry.