BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Surinamese President Desi Bouterse exchanged congratulations Saturday to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In his congratulatory message, Xi said that Surinam is an important partner of China in the Caribbean region.

Over the past 40 years, the two countries have witnessed a number of high-level exchanges, fruitful pragmatic cooperation, and a deepening friendship between their peoples, Xi said.

"I attach great importance to the development of China-Suriname relations and stand ready to work with the Surinamese side to lift bilateral friendly cooperative relations to a higher level so as to benefit the two peoples," said the Chinese president.

In his message, Bouterse said that the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations is a milestone in the history of Surinam-China relations.

Surinam expects closer and more fruitful cooperation with China in the future, he said.