China expressed its congratulations on Monday to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his election as new president of Iran.  

"Ahmadinejad's election as Iran's president is the choice of the Iranian people and we congratulate him on this," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao in Beijing.

Ahmadinejad, mayor of Tehran, defeated his presidential run-off rival Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and won the country's ninth presidential election on Saturday.

"We believe within Ahmadinejad's term Sino-Iranian friendly cooperation will be further developed," said Liu, hoping the Iranian people can make their country better under the leadership of the new government.

Ahmadinejad expressed on Sunday his willingness to develop ties with China at his first press conference.

"I know China very well. During my term of office as Tehran mayor, I had frequent contacts with many Chinese companies cooperating with us, through which I have become quite familiar with China and the Chinese people," Ahmadinejad said.

"Iran intends to promote relations with all amicable countries in the world, including China," Ahmadinejad stressed.

(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2005)