The relations between the People's Republic of China and the Independent State of Samoa made new progress in 2010. The two countries marked the 35th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

China and Samoa had close high-level exchanges and further deepened political trust. In January, NPC Vice Chairman Chen Changzhi visited Samoa. In August, Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai met Samoan Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi during the 22nd Post-Pacific Islands Forum Dialogue held in Vanuatu. Other Chinese officials who visited Samoa included: Vice President of the Supreme People's Court Zhang Jun (in April); Vice President of the All-China Women's Federation Meng Xiaosi (in April); and Minister of the General Administration of Sport Liu Peng (in May). In August, Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa attended the activities of the National Pavilion Day of Samoa on 1 August during the Shanghai World Expo. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labor Misa Telefoni Retzlaff visited the World Expo in May and traveled to Shanghai again in November for the Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the South Pacific Tourism Organization. In November, Speaker of Parliament Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Leiataua paid a private visit to China and attended celebrations for the 35th anniversary of China-Samoa diplomatic ties. Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and Chairperson for Sports Facilities Steering Committee Faumuina Tiatia Liuga attended the opening ceremony of the Guangzhou Asian Games.

Cooperation between China and Samoa in such fields as economy, trade, culture and health and people-to-people exchanges grew from strength to strength. The governments of China and Samoa exchanged letters to confirm the tariff-free treatment enjoyed by some Samoan exports to China. The projects built with Chinese assistance such as the renovation and expansion of the Youth and Women's Center and the construction of the Matautu Primary School as well as construction with China's concessional loans of the office building of the Samoan Court were completed and handed over to Samoa. Projects such as the earthquake monitoring station built with the cooperation between China and Samoa, the New Government Office Building Complex and International Conference Center, and the National Medical Center and Headquarters of Ministry of Health were advanced steadily. The model project of China-Samoa agro-technological cooperation proceeded smoothly. The 12th Chinese medical team worked actively in Samoa. The Shaolin Martial Arts Troupe performed in Samoa in June and was widely welcomed by local people. In November, China and Samoa signed the Agreement Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Independent State of Samoa on Mutual Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic and Service (Official) Passports.

On 6 November, Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi exchanged messages to celebrate the 35th anniversary of China-Samoa diplomatic relations.

In April, Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi sent a message of condolences to Premier Wen Jiabao after the earthquake in Yushu of Qinghai Province. In September, Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi expressed condolences for the disastrous mudslide in Zhouqu, Gansu and the Samoan government donated US$50,030 to the Chinese government.