SUVA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Fijian President Jioji Konrote on Sunday extended his best wishes for the Chinese Lunar New Year and thanked China for the continued support given to the South Pacific island state.

Addressing a Chinese Lunar New Year celebration organized by the Fijian Chinese community, Konrote said, "On behalf the government and people of Fiji, I extend to you our very best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year."

"To all our Chinese friends and all Fijians of Chinese ancestry, I wish you continued prosperity and good health," he said.

Konrote praised China for being a close ally of Fiji for decades extending back to the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1975, noting that the bilateral ties have strengthened even further in the recent decade.

"As a result of expanding Fiji-China relations, Fiji has, since then, continued to experience a surge in growth opportunities in the areas of social development, trade and investment, as well as a renewed commitment of support towards Fiji's stand on climate change and its aspiration to successfully achieve the targets within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs," he said.

Recognizing the Fijian government's infrastructural development needs in both urban and rural sectors, China has continued to respond with viable solutions that have resulted in real-time benefits for the people of Fiji, he noted.

"To all our Chinese partners in development, and the friends of Fiji who strove, over the years, to further promote the mutually beneficial relations that now exist between our two nations and have been most helpful in assisting us in dealing with our socio-economic and political challenges, I would like to acknowledge, commend and more importantly, thank you for your efforts as we commemorate and celebrate the Chinese New Year today," he said.