BEIJING - Premier Li Keqiang has congratulated Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama on his election as Fiji’s new prime minister, pledging to further strengthen ties between China and the South Pacific island country.

In the congratulatory message dated Sept 22, Li noted that China and Fiji have witnessed substantial progress in their bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1975.

China highly values the development of its relations with Fiji and supports the Fiji people to choose their own development path in line with their national conditions, he said.

Premier Li Keqiang vowed to make joint efforts with Bainimarama to grasp the opportunities and further enhance dialogues, exchanges and cooperation in various fields between the two countries, so as to push forward bilateral ties and bring benefits to the two nations and peoples.

Bainimarama was sworn in as Fiji’s new prime minister on Sept 22, after his Fiji First Party won a landslide victory in the 2014 general election, the first in the eight years since the military took power.