Vanuatu's Prime Minister Joe Natuman and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to boost bilateral cooperation at a meeting in Nanjing.
Vanuatu Prime Minister Joe Natuman Photo: Supplied
China's Daily Times reports that Xi has hailed Mr Natuman as an old friend of the Chinese people.
The Chinese leader says the Vanua'aku Party, of which Mr Natuman is a founding member, was the first political party in the Pacific Islands region to establish relations with the Communist Party of China.
He says that the party has made a great contribution to China-Vanuatu ties.
Xi says China will back Vanuatu's efforts to safeguard its rights and advance sustainable development.
He has signalled China will welcome more exports from Vanuatu and will support Chinese companies cooperating with Vanuatu partners in agriculture, fishery, transportation, telecommunications, clean energy and infrastructure.