Diplomatic relations

In his message, Xi said that since China and Vanuatu established diplomatic ties 40 years ago, bilateral relations have been tested by the changing international situation, political mutual trust between the two countries has been ever deepening, and bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields have yielded fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to people of the two countries.

An agreement was reached in Togo's capital between Vanuatu's foreign minister, Ralph Regenvanu, and his Bulgarian counterpart, Ekaterina Zaharieva.

The two ministers are in Lomé, attending the Joint Ministerial Council of the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States.

The deals were announced after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Delhi on Monday.

Mr Modi said he wanted Israeli defence companies to invest in India.

Mr Netanyahu's visit comes a year after Mr Modi became the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel.

He arrived in Delhi on Sunday for a six-day visit along with a 130-member business delegation.

The two countries also signed deals where they agreed to cooperate in areas including cyber-defence, security and science.