Comoros newly elected president Ikililou Dhoinine Madi on Wednesday met with Chinese special envoy Hao Ping, who arrived in the Indian Ocean island country the previous day to attend his inaugural ceremony.

During the meeting, Ikililou expressed thanks to the Chinese government for sending its special envoy to his inauguration scheduled for Thursday.

He told the Chinese envoy, who is also vice minister of education, that China and the Comoros enjoy fraternal ties. China was the first country to recognize the independence of the Comoros and establish diplomatic relations with it, he said.

The Comoros government and people are grateful to China for its massive, selfless and constant support, he added.

Ikililou reiterated that the Comoros will, like always, adhere to the one China policy and support China's great cause of reunification.

Hao conveyed warm congratulations from Chinese President Hu Jintao on Ikililou's election.

Despite changes on the international arena, he said, China and the Comoros have witnessed the healthy and steady development of their friendly and cooperative ties in the past 36 years after the establishment of diplomatic relations.

China appreciates the one China policy followed by the Comoros and its firm and long-term stand to support China on key issues of its concern, said the Chinese special envoy.

China cherishes the traditional friendship between the two countries, he said, adding that China is willing to work with the Comoros to further political, economic and trade cooperation and bring the bilateral ties to a new level.

On the same day, the Chinese special envoy made a courtesy call to out-going President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi.