Li Changchun (R), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, is welcomed by people upon his arrival in Apia, Samoa on April 2, 2007.(Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)

    APIA, April 2 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation with Samoa and push friendly exchanges forward, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said here late Monday.

    Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said in a statement that China places great importance on its traditional friendship with Samoa.

    The statement was released at the airport immediately after Li arrived in the country Monday evening.

    In 1975, Samoa became one of the first South Pacific island nations to establish diplomatic ties with China.

    Since then, bilateral cooperation has been progressing rapidly in such fields as culture, education, sports, public health and tourism, the statement said.

Li Changchun (R), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, is welcomed by Samoan Vice Prime Minister Misa Telefoni Retzlaff upon his arrival in Apia, Samoa on April 2, 2007. (Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)

    Trade volume between China and Samoa reached 13 million U.S. dollars in 2006, a 116.7-percent increase over the previous year.

    During the three-day visit, Li is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and other high-ranking official of Samoa.

    Samoa is the last leg of Li's Latin American and Pacific tour, which has brought him to Mexico, Venezuela, Suriname, Ecuador and Peru.