Hu felicitates President

BEIJING—Chinese President Hu Jintao Thursday sent a message to Pervez Musharraf, congratulating him on his re-election as Pakistan’s president.
In the message, Hu said that China and Pakistan have always respected, understood, trusted and supported each other on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence since the two countries established diplomatic ties more than five decades ago. He said that Pakistan is China’s good friend, neighbor, partner and brother all in one, noting that the two countries have forged all-weather friendship and all-round cooperation.
Hu expressed China’s willingness to join hands with Pakistan to further promote the mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, elevate bilateral strategic partnership to a new high, and contribute to building a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.
Musharraf, who won the October elections, just took oath as civilian president for a five-year term. He resigned as army chief Wednesday and handed over the military command to succeeding army chief General Ashafaq Parvez Kayani.—Xinhua