Chinese president congratulates Zuma on election as S African president

Source: Xinhua | 05-07-2009 14:44

BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a message to Jacob Zuma on Thursday congratulating him on his election as president of South Africa.

In his message, the Chinese president hailed the political stability, national reconciliation, as well as social and economic progress of the country under the leadership of the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC).

The ANC's success and Zuma's election have shown the South African people's "approval of the ANC's achievements in leading the country" and their "high trust in and support for the president himself," Hu said.

Both being important developing countries and each other's strategic partner, China and South Africa share a lot of common grounds and interests in regional and international affairs, he said.

Hu expressed his readiness to work with Zuma in enhancing the all-round cooperation between their two countries to face up to various global challenges, realize mutual benefit and common development, and contribute to the building of a harmonious world of long-lasting peace and common prosperity.

Zuma was elected president of South Africa on Wednesday. The 67-year-old ANC leader is set to be inaugurated on Saturday.

Editor:Zhang Ning