Chinese President Xi Jinping and Tongan King Tupou VI exchanged congratulatory messages on Friday to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

In his message to King Tupou VI, Xi said that bilateral ties have grown continuously with the expansion of practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges over the past two decades.

Xi said that he and King Tupou VI achieved important consensus on promoting bilateral exchanges and cooperation on a wide range of areas during the king's state visit to China in March this year, which outlined the direction for future bilateral ties.

Xi said that he greatly values China-Tonga relations and is willing to make use of the opportunity of the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations to strengthen exchanges and cooperation and constantly scale new heights in the relationship, so as to better benefit the two peoples.

In his congratulatory message to Xi, King Tupou VI said high-level exchanges between the two countries are robust, cooperation is expanding, and mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples are growing.

The king also sent his wishes for China's prosperity and the well-being of the Chinese people.