BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Cho Hyun on his assuming office as South Korea's foreign minister.

In his message, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China and South Korea are friendly neighbors and strategic cooperative partners. Bilateral ties have continued to grow since the establishment of diplomatic relations 33 years ago, bringing great benefits to both peoples and making important contributions to regional peace, stability and prosperity, he said.

Noting that Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung reached a consensus on advancing the two countries' strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level in a recent phone conversation, Wang said the sound and stable development of China-South Korea relations serves the common interests of both countries and is a goal that both sides should continue to pursue.

Wang said he's ready to establish a good working relationship with Cho, guided by the consensus reached by the two heads of state, to make unremitting efforts to deepen China-South Korea friendship and cooperation.