China has committed 800,000 U.S. dollars towards preparations for Fiji's 2014 general election following the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the South Pacific island country, the Fijian government confirmed Saturday.

The MoA was signed by Huang Yong, Chinese ambassador to Fiji and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Fiji's acting prime minister, attorney- general and minister responsible for elections on Friday, said Fiji's Ministry of Information.

China is happy to see the progress that Fiji is making towards the 2014 general election, Huang said.

Sayed-Khaiyum expressed the Fijian government's appreciation and said the assistance from the Chinese government reflects the strong bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Fijian government has announced that the country's general election will be held on Sept. 17, a Wednesday that will be a paid public holiday.