Xi congratulates Sao Tome and Principe president

President Xi Jinping called on China and Sao Tome and Principe to elevate bilateral relations to new heights and bring greater benefits to their peoples, as he extended a congratulatory message on Wednesday to Carlos Vila Nova on his reelection as president of Sao Tome and Principe.

In his message, Xi noted that in recent years, relations between China and Sao Tome and Principe, an island country of Africa, have maintained sound momentum for growth.

The two sides have continued to deepen their political mutual trust, firmly supported each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, and achieved notable results in practical cooperation across various fields, he added.

Xi said that he attaches great importance to the development of China's relations with Sao Tome and Principe.

He expressed his willingness to work with President Vila Nova in taking the implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation as an opportunity to continuously elevate the two countries' strategic partnership to new heights and better benefit the two peoples.

Vila Nova, who was first elected president in 2021, secured 55.94 percent of the votes in the July 19 presidential election, winning a second five-year term, according to preliminary results released by the National Electoral Commission of Sao Tome and Principe.

jihaisheng@chinadaily.com.cn