Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a congratulatory message on Thursday to Hamid Karzai on his election as Afghan president.
   
"On the occasion of Your Excellency's election as the president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, I wish to extend, on behalf of the Chinese government and people and in my own name, our sincere congratulations and best wishes to Your Excellency and the Afghan people,"  Hu said in the congratulatory message.
   
"China and Afghanistan are friendly neighbors and the two peoples enjoy a long history of friendly contacts. With the joint efforts of the two sides, the Sino-Afghan good-neighborly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation have made new progress in recent years," Hu said.
   
"I believe, under the leadership of Your Excellency, the Afghan government and people will make fresh achievements in promoting the peace and reconstruction process and contribute actively to regional peace, stability and development,"  he added.
   
"I wish to make joint efforts with Your Excellency to usher in a brighter tomorrow for the good-neighborly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Afghanistan."

(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2004)