BEIJING, Jan. 19 -- China is full of confidence in prospects of relations with Sri Lanka, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Monday.

In a message to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Sri Lanka's new president Maithripala Sirisena confirmed that the new government will continue major projects with China and expand bilateral cooperation in various fields, spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement.

Hong said that China sets a high value on Sirisena's and the new Sri Lankan government's positive attitude toward China.

In the message to Xi, Sirisena committed himself to pushing forward a bilateral strategic partnership and will create favorable conditions for economic and trade cooperation with China as well as China's investment in the country.

China-Sri Lanka friendship has withstood the test of time, the spokesman said, stressing that multi-dimensional cooperation is in line with desires and interests of the two peoples.