Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has congratulated the newly elected president of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

In his congratulatory message, Zardari said that the confidence reposed in Xi's leadership by the National People's Congress was a testament to his hard work and years of devoted service to the Chinese people.

The president expressed the hope that China will achieve many more momentous milestones in its pursuit of national rejuvenation and peaceful development under his able leadership, the Foreign Ministry statement said.

The president also expressed the hope that the all-weather and multifaceted friendship between the two countries and the two peoples would be further strengthened and taken to new heights, it said.