BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a congratulatory letter to the 3rd China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum held in Samoa's capital city of Apia.

In the letter, Xi noted that he and leaders of Pacific island countries met in Papua New Guinea in November 2018, and agreed to elevate their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership of mutual respect and common development, which ushered in a new stage of relations between the two sides.

Xi stressed that holding the 3rd forum is an important consensus reached between him and leaders of the Pacific island countries, saying he hopes that the two sides will make full use of this important platform to strengthen dialogue, exchanges and cooperation so as to push for greater progress in bilateral cooperation.