BEIJING - Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday congratulated Mohamed Morsi for his victory in Egypt's first presidential election since former President Hosni Mubarak resigned early last year.

In a congratulatory message, Hu said the two countries have seen sound and stable development of bilateral ties ever since the establishment of diplomatic links 56 years ago.

China respects the Egyptian people's choice of their own political system and path of development, and supports the Egyptian side's efforts to maintain social stability and promote social and economic development, he said.

The Chinese president believed the Egyptian people will achieve new progress in nation-building under Morsi's leadership.

He added that China has always viewed and handled its relationship with Egypt from strategic and long-term perspectives, and would like to work with Egypt to promote China-Egypt strategic cooperative relations to higher levels so as to better serve the two countries and peoples.