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.

The Russian leader said that thanks largely to Xi's personal impetus, Russia-China relations have in recent years reached an unprecedented height and have set an example for developing equality-based and mutually beneficial cooperation between major countries.

"I will be very happy to hold new meetings with you. It is believed that with the joint efforts of both sides, we will surely further consolidate and enrich the Russia-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination," Putin said.

That will undoubtedly improve the well-being of the friendly Russian and Chinese people and promote the security and stability of Eurasia and the world at large, Putin added.

Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang extended his warmest congratulations to Xi, and said he believes Xi will lead the Chinese people to successfully achieve the goal of building China as a prosperous, democratic, civilized, harmonious and beautiful socialist modernized country, and make contributions to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and world.

Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit said that under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party with Xi as its core, the course of socialism with Chinese characteristics will make all-round, remarkable and historic achievements, and the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries will further develop.

Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain said Xi's election shows that the Chinese people are confident of his brilliant leadership. China has made remarkable achievements in the past five years, and Xi's outstanding contribution to world peace and development has been widely praised, he said.

The Republic of Korea's President Moon Jae-in said it is hoped that China will realize the Chinese Dream early under Xi's leadership and make greater contributions to peace and development in Northeast Asia and the world. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-ROK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and Moon said he would like to work with Xi to take the bilateral ties to greater maturity and into a new era.

Japanese Emperor Akihito expressed his sincere congratulations to Xi's election as president and his wish for Xi's good health and China's prosperity.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that in the past 40 years, China has made remarkable progress, Japan and China have been cooperating in a wide spectrum, and he looks to take this year as an opportunity to further improve the China-Japan relationship and bring it to a higher ground.

Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen said Xi's election reflects the confidence of the majority of Chinese people in Xi's leading efforts to achieve the "Two Centenary Goals" and the Chinese Dream, and under Xi's brilliant leadership, China will make greater achievements in its development and bring more opportunities for various countries to achieve common development.

Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid said China has made great achievements in building the community with a shared future for mankind under Xi's leadership, and the ties between China and Bangladesh will be further boosted and deepened.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said China, under Xi's wise and visionary leadership, has made remarkable achievements, and her country looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in various fields.

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev said the election fully shows that the Chinese people highly endorse Xi's great contributions to safeguarding national interests. China will produce new achievements under Xi's leadership, and the two nations' comprehensive strategic partnership will continue its high-level development with joint efforts by both sides, he said.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko expressed the wish that the Chinese people enjoy eternal peace and prosperity and that Belarus-China friendly ties achieve continuous development.

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili said Xi's brilliant leadership will surely bring greater development and benefits to the Chinese nation, and the traditional friendship and cooperation between Georgia and China will be further deepened.

Cameroonian President Paul Biya voiced his hope for Xi's every success in fulfilling the noble mission, and said he would like to work with Xi in strengthening the unique friendship and cooperation between Cameroon and China.

Namibian President Hage Geingob said under Xi's leadership, China has achieved rapid economic and social development and has made remarkable achievements in the country's buildup, and China is on its way to building a prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful socialist modernized major country.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said Xi's election shows the Chinese people's trust and confidence in Xi's vision and wisdom shown in managing national and international affairs, and he believes that the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing in September will achieve great success and push the partnership between Africa and China to a higher level.

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Xi, as a leader of loyalty and honesty with a great sense of duty, has won heartfelt support from the Chinese people, the people have fully expressed their trust in Xi through actions, and China surely will become more prosperous.

Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita said that the NPC's electing Xi as president fully affirms Xi's outstanding governing capability and noble quality of serving the people, and he would like to join Xi in making unremitting efforts to further strengthen the friendly cooperation between China and Mali.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Xi's election shows that the Chinese people and the Communist Party of China are confident of Xi's brilliant leadership and the grand plan for the future, and he believes that Xi will lead the Chinese nation to achieve great rejuvenation and promote international peace and justice.

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen said Xi's post bears significant duties and is lofty, China has made unimaginable achievements since starting its reform and opening-up, and he hopes that China proceeds in the path to success under Xi's leadership.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he speaks highly of Xi's courage and great sense of duty, and he believes that under Xi's leadership, the Chinese people will realize the Chinese Dream of achieving great rejuvenation, and China's rejuvenation will be conducive to keeping world peace and stability and benefit people in the world.

Antigua and Barbuda Governor General Rodney Williams said Xi is a leader with great charisma and talent, and he hopes China will make greater achievements in its development under Xi's leadership.

Also, Shanghai Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Rashid Alimov said in a letter that China plays an increasingly important role on the world stage, the Belt and Road Initiative and the community with a shared future for mankind－both proposed by Xi－have been hailed and echoed by the international community, and the SCO Summit in Qingdao in June surely will yield fruitful outcomes.