Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory message to Samoa's new head of state, Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II.

In his message, dated July 24, Xi noted that the China-Samoa relations have maintained a sound momentum of development in recent years, with close contacts between the two sides at different levels, deepening mutual political trust, and fruitful results of exchanges and cooperation in various areas.

China-Samoa ties have become a paradigm of China's friendly cooperative relations with Pacific island nations, Xi said, adding that he is willing to work with Tuimalealiifano to lift the two countries' strategic partnership to a higher level.