WELLINGTON, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Limin, China's first ambassador to the South Pacific island nation of Niue, presented the credential to Niue Prime Minister Toke Talagi in the capital of Alofi on Friday local time, according to news reached here on Saturday.

    Niue's cabinet ministers, government officials and members of parliament attended the ceremony.

    Talagi welcomed Zhang, who also serves as the Chinese ambassador to New Zealand and the Cook Islands. Talagi said China is the first country which established formal diplomatic ties with Niue, and it was also the first time for Niue to hold a ceremony on receiving credential from a foreign ambassador.

    He said Niue attached importance to developing ties with China and thanked China's assistance in expanding Niue's airport and housing rebuilding project.

    The Chinese ambassador conveyed Chinese President Hu Jintao's regards and said bilateral ties have witnessed sound development since they established diplomatic ties in December 2007.

    Zhang, who is based in Wellington, New Zealand, said China and Niue supported each other in regional and international affairs, with increasing friendship between the two peoples.