Leaders worldwide send congratulations

Foreign leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin sent messages to Xi Jinping on Saturday to congratulate him on his election as China's president.

Xi was elected president by a unanimous vote on Saturday morning at a session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Putin said in a message that the choice made by the NPC once again proves Xi's high prestige, and represents a recognition of Xi's contribution to promoting China's rapid economic and social development and safeguarding China's national interests on the global stage.