Leader of Sao Tome, Principe tells why he cut Taiwan ties

China's importance as a strategic partner and the need to improve the lives of the people of Sao Tome and Principe made breaking relations with Taiwan the right decision, Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada said on Thursday.

It was the first official comment after the African island nation announced on Tuesday that it had severed ties with Taiwan that had been established in 1997.

"We have our program and we have a commitment to the people to improve their living conditions," he was quoted by Reuters as saying, adding that China is "a very important strategic relationship".