As western nations waited with caution to react to Mr Vladimir Putin’s landslide victory in the Presidential elections, Russia’s neighbour China today became the first country to hail his sweeping win.
Chinese President Mr Hu Jintao has sent a congratulatory message to Mr Putin, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mr Liu Weimin said.
Mr Putin, who spent the last four years as country’s Prime Minister, yesterday declared his victory, returning for a third term as President.
“China respects the choice of the Russian people and supports Russia in taking a development mode that fits its own domestic situation,” Mr Liu said at a briefing here.
“We believe Russia will maintain social and political stability, continue economic development and play a greater role in the international arena,” Mr Liu said.
China and Russia play as each other’s principal and most important strategic and cooperative partner, Mr Liu said.
China hopes that the two sides can further implement the blueprints forged by the two leaderships on the development of bilateral ties in the coming decade, he said, adding that by doing so, the two countries can bolster a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.
According to the mechanism of annual exchange of visits by Chinese and Russian heads of state, Russia’s President will visit China in 2012.
“The two sides will keep close contact on that via diplomatic channels,” Mr Liu said.