On November 6, 1975, the People's Republic of China officially established diplomatic relations with the Independent State of Samoa. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the relations between the two sides have maintained a sound momentum.

In November 2014, President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister of Samoa Tuilaepa in Fiji, and the two sides upgraded the relations to a strategic cooperative partnership featuring mutual respect and common development. In November 2018, President Xi Jinping visited Papua New Guinea and met with Prime Minister Tuilaepa, both sides agreed to upgrade the relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development. In November 2024, Prime Minister Fiame paid an official visit to China, and the two sides issued a Joint Statement between the People’s Republic of China and the Independent State of Samoa.

In September 2018, the Confucius Institute at the National University of Samoa was officially established. The Chinese medical teams have been offering free medical services in Samoa since 2018.