BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi sent a congratulatory message on Wednesday to Francisco Perez Mackenna on his assuming office as Chilean foreign minister.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China and Chile are comprehensive strategic partners, adding that since the two countries established diplomatic relations over half a century ago, bilateral ties have maintained a sound momentum of growth and have long been at the forefront of China's relations with Latin American countries.

Noting that the two countries share extensive common interests, Wang said that China has always viewed and developed China-Chile relations from a strategic height and a long-term perspective.

Wang said that he stands ready to work together with Perez to further deepen exchanges and cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two countries, and to take the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the China-Chile comprehensive strategic partnership as an opportunity to promote the sustained and in-depth development of bilateral relations and deliver more benefits to the two peoples.