by Huang Xingwei　

    PORT VILA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Vanuatu's new president Iolu Johnson Abbil has said he will continue to strengthen the relations with China and adhere to the "One-China" policy.

    In an interview with Xinhua on Wednesday evening after he was sworn in as the Pacific island country's 7th president, Abbil said Vanuatu and China maintained sound relations since they established diplomatic ties in March 1982.

    China, a vast country with strong economic development in the past years, has supported Vanuatu's construction, including the Parliament House complex, he said.

    "Relations between Vanuatu and China will be encouraged to keep on in the future, hope we will work along, side by side, and support each other," he said.

    "Since the establishment of bilateral ties, the "One-China" policy has been the Vanuatu government's set policy. We will continue to support the 'One China' policy," he added.

    Abbil, 65, who has not visited China before, said he was interested in what is happening in China. China has witnessed strong economic development in the past years, and will host the World Expo in Shanghai next year.

    He said he was looking forward to visiting China some time in the future.

    Abbil was elected as Vanuatu's new president on Wednesday afternoon. A total of 11 candidates, including two women, contested for the presidency.

    On Wednesday evening, Abbil was sworn in as Vanuatu's new president.

    He told Xinhua he was happy to be elected as the new president. But it is also a challenge which he will cope with, he said.

    As the president is a symbol of Vanuatu without much executive power, he said he will try to maintain the symbol and stability of the Pacific island country in the future.

    Abbil comes from the southern island of Tanna and was a former cabinet minister in the first Vanuatu government after the country gained independence in 1980.

    He succeeds Kalkot Mataskelekele whose term as president ended last month.

    Vanuatu, located in the South Pacific Ocean, has a population of 221,000. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some 1,750 km east of northern Australia, and is consisted of some 84 islands.