On March 26, 2012, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao exchanged congratulatory messages with his Vanuatuan counterpart, Sato Kilman, to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

In his message, Wen said China and Vanuatu have had a long history of friendly contacts and the establishment of diplomatic ties on March 26, 1982 opened a new chapter for bilateral ties. China-Vanuatu relations have enjoyed sound development in the past 30 years, said Wen, noting that the two countries have respected each other politically and treated each other as equals; have forged mutually beneficial economic cooperation and sought common development; and have had good coordination and supported each other in multilateral affairs. China appreciates the Vanuatuan government's and its leaders' adherence to the one-China policy, he said. It is proven that the development of China-Vanuatu relations has not only brought real benefits to the two peoples, but also promoted the stability and development of the Pacific Island region, said Wen.

China attaches importance to the friendship with Vanuatu and regards it as a good friend and partner in the Pacific Island region, Wen said, adding that China is willing to work with Vanuatu to push bilateral ties to higher levels based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

Kilman said in his message that Vanuatu-China relations are based on friendship, mutual trust, mutual understanding and respect for each other's sovereignty and the principles of peaceful coexistence. In the past three decades, the two nations have supported each other and treated each other as equals, and have expanded practical cooperation and personnel exchanges in political, economic and cultural fields, which have yielded great results, he said. Kilman said he was honored to make joint efforts with Wen to further strengthen economic, social and political relations between the two countries, adding he is looking forward to continuously deepening the friendship and cooperation between the two peoples.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his Vanuatuan counterpart, Alfred Carlot, also exchanged congratulatory messages for the same occasion.