China encourages domestic companies to invest in Fiji and more tourists to travel to the Pacific island nation, President Xi Jinping told Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

Xi also said that China would like to enhance cooperation with Fiji in such areas as trade, investment, agricultural technology and green development.

Noting that Fiji is the first Pacific island country to establish diplomatic ties with China, Xi said it has brought China-Fiji relations to a higher level and that the two countries established a strategic partnership in 2014 on the basis of mutual respect and joint development.

The two countries have boosted political trust, expanded pragmatic cooperation and strengthened people-to-people exchanges, Xi said, adding that they both should make efforts to benefit the people of both countries.

Xi called on the two countries to continue to support each other in issues related to core interests and major concerns. The two should expand exchanges in education and culture areas, Xi added.

China would like to maintain close communication and coordination on key issues such as climate change under the framework of the United Nations, he added.

The Fijian prime minister congratulated China on the success of the Belt and Road Forum of International Cooperation. Fiji supports the Belt and Road and expects to cooperate with China on the initiative, he said.

Fiji firmly supports the One China policy, and hopes to deepen cooperation with China on trade, agriculture, infrastructure and people-to-people areas.