South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Tuesday hailed China's assistance to his country's health and road infrastructure development.

In his address to legislators in Juba, Kiir appreciated Beijing for providing assistance toward the upgrading and expansion of the country's largest referral health facility, the Juba Teaching Hospital.

"In terms of infrastructural development, I must appreciate China for the huge upgrade it is making in Juba Teaching Hospital," Kiir said.

Phase one of the project for the expansion and modernization of Juba Teaching Hospital, which began in 2017, is expected to be completed before the end of 2019.

"The expansion being done will increase the total number of beds to 350. That is a very big increase and it is a very clear indication of our cordial bilateral relations with China," Kiir said.

"I call upon the leadership of Ministry of Health to train people who will competently manage and maintain both the building and the equipment to the standard that China would expect from them," he added.

The South Sudanese leader also applauded China's contribution to supporting the registration, cantonment and unification of armed forces as part of a 2018 peace agreement.