China happy to see Russia's smooth presidential election

BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- China was happy to see that Russia held a smooth presidential election, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang here Tuesday at a regular press conference.

Chinese President Hu Jintao Monday congratulated Dmitry Medvedev during a telephone conversation on his victory in Russia's presidential election.

Spokesman Qin Gang said the result of Russia's presidential election proved again that Russia's development path and domestic and foreign policies gained broad support by the Russian people.

China believed that under the leadership of Medvedev, Russia would make greater achievements in national development and more contribution to world peace and common development, Qin said.

China was ready to work with Russia to carry forward the principles of Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, and to push forward the two countries' strategic partnership of coordination.

Medvedev, first deputy prime minister of Russian President Vladimir Putin's cabinet, won a landslide victory in Sunday's presidential election.