Highlights of foreign congratulatory messages on Xi's election as Chinese president (7)

BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Congratulations have been pouring in from around the world since Xi Jinping was elected Chinese president by a unanimous vote on Saturday at the annual session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Xi was also unanimously elected chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC).

In their congratulatory messages, leaders of foreign countries, political parties and organizations expressed confidence that under Xi's leadership, China will achieve greater prosperity and make more contributions to world peace and development.

The following is an edited version of some of the messages.

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena cheerly congratulated Xi on his election, saying he firmly believes that under the capable leadership of Xi, Sri Lanka and China will strengthen their confidence in cooperation and push for all-round development of bilateral relations.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said maintaining the sound and stable development of bilateral relations between Indian and China, the world's two most populous countries, is of vital importance to the peace, development and prosperity of all mankind.

Modi said that based on the important consensus reached at the BRICS Xiamen Summit last September, India looks forward to working with China to elevate bilateral relations to a higher level.

BRICS groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The ninth BRICS Summit was held in China's eastern coastal city of Xiamen in Fujian Province on Sept. 3-5.

Xi's unanimous election has fully demonstrated the people's absolute trust in his excellent leadership, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said, adding that under the wise leadership of Xi, China will continue to prosper and successfully become a great modern socialist country.

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow said that based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit, Turkmenistan attaches great importance to the continued development of cooperation with China.

He further expressed his firm belief that China will achieve even greater success under Xi's brilliant and visionary leadership, and relations between the two countries will reach a higher level.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko noted that with Xi's extraordinary leadership, professionalism and charisma being highly recognized, Xi's election as Chinese president is a powerful indicator that he has won the highest level of trust.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Xi's election shows Chinese people's vote of confidence in his excellent leadership, under which Ramaphosa firmly believes that China will become a leading country that exerts a positive influence on the world.

He expressed the confidence that South Africa-China cooperation will be further expanded and deepened, with a brighter future being ushered in the bilateral relations.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said the Chinese people, during the past five years, have scored tremendous achievements in various fields under the enlightened guidance of Xi, whose election is a full affirmation of his wisdom and vision.

He believes that under the competent leadership of Xi, the Chinese people will surely gain greater achievements on the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. Enditem