ISLAMABAD: Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday felicitated and extended best wishes to PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari on his election as the President of Pakistan.

“China and Pakistan are good neighboring countries linked by common mountains and rivers, and our two peoples are enjoying profound all-weather friendship,” Hu Jintao said in a message addressed to President-elect Asif Ali Zardari.

The Chinese President said, over the past 57 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Pakistan have politically been enjoying mutually beneficial, treating each other as equals, economically conducting mutually beneficial cooperation and common development, resulting in remarkable achievements and continuous expansion of exchanges and cooperation in many other areas.

“We have also been supporting each other and maintaining close coordination in international and regional affairs.”

He said the Sino-Pak friendship has brought concrete and tangible benefits for our two peoples and made positive contribution to the peace, stability and development of the region and the world at large.