President Hu Jintao on Monday mourned the passing of Saudi King Fahd Ibn Abdul-Aziz and welcomed the naming of Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul-Aziz as the new king.

In a message of condolence to the newly-appointed King Abdullah, Hu expressed his deep condolences over the death of King Fahd, calling the late monarch a great leader of Saudi Arabia and an old esteemed friend of the Chinese people.

King Fahd "has made an important contribution to the construction of a modern Saudi Arabia, the development of the Saudi national economy, and peace and development in the region and the world as a whole," Hu said, noting that his efforts have been widely praised around the world.

Hu also paid tribute to King Fahd's efforts to promote the Sino-Saudi relations, saying the demise "is not only a great loss to the Saudi people, but also the loss of an old esteemed friend to the Chinese people."

Hu pledged in another congratulatory message to the new monarch that China will further promote the friendly relations with Saudi Arabia under his rule.

Abdullah, 81 and a half brother of Fahd, was swiftly pronounced monarch early Monday in an apparently smooth succession in the gulf state.

"I believe Your Majesty will carry out the behest of King Fahd and under your leadership, the Saudi government and people will achieve continuous achievements in national construction," Hu said.

He also highly praised the importance the new king has consistently attached to the development of the Sino-Saudi relations.

"I am ready to work together with you to continue to promote comprehensive and deep Sino-Saudi friendly and cooperative relations, which will benefit both the two countries and two peoples," Hu said.

King Fahd, 82, died Monday at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in the Saudi capital of Riyadh where he was admitted to the hospital in May due to acute pneumonia.

(Xinhua News Agency August 2, 2005)