Official congratulations continue pouring in for Xi

Leaders from around the world continue to send messages to President Xi Jinping congratulating him on his election as China's head of state.

Xi was elected Chinese president by a unanimous vote on Saturday morning during the ongoing session of the 13th National People's Congress, the top legislature.

Cuban President Raul Castro said Cuba hopes to continue enhancing Cuba-China relations based on their close friendship and mutual political trust.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said Xi's election fully proved that the Chinese people acknowledge Xi's outstanding achievements and support his wise leadership. Afghanistan cherishes its friendship with China and expects to deepen cooperation with the country in all areas, he added.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Xi's election fully demonstrated that Chinese people have strong confidence in Xi's leadership capability. Noting that bilateral ties are gaining new momentum, Duterte said mutually beneficial cooperation will be strengthened.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said Egypt hopes to push mutually beneficial cooperation with China and bring more benefits for the peoples of both countries.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz spoke highly of the friendship between the two countries, saying that Saudi Arabia wants to push bilateral cooperation in all areas.

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah said his country would like to strengthen its traditional friendship with China, and he hopes for greater development in the Kuwait-China friendship.

Milos Zeman, president of the Czech Republic, said he believes China will have a brighter future under Xi's leadership. Calling China one of his nation's most important partners, Zeman said he expects to upgrade the bilateral strategic partnership to bring more benefits to both countries.

The following leaders also sent congratulatory messages or letters to Xi on his election as president of China:

Mahamadou Issoufou, president of Niger; Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, president of Equatorial Guinea; Faustin Archange Touadera, president of Central African Republic; Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; Iraqi President Fuad Masum; Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani; King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain; Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, president of Mauritania; King Tupou VI of Tonga; Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah; Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, prime minister of Bahrain; Roosevelt Skerrit, prime minister of Dominica; Frank Bainimarama, prime minister of Fiji; Peter O'Neill, prime minister of Papua New Guinea; Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait; Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain; Qatari Deputy Emir Abdullah bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani; Abdullah Abdullah, chief executive of Afghanistan; Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei; Emomali Rahmon, president of Tajikistan; Sooronbai Jeenbekov, president of Kyrgyzstan; Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, president of Portugal; Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari; Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan; Igor Dodon, president of Moldova; Idriss Deby Itno, president of Chad; King Letsie III of Lesotho; Danny Faure, president of Seychelles; Patrice Trovoada, prime minister of Sao Tome and Principe; and Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, prime minister of Samoa.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended congratulations to Xi.