BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping extended on Tuesday congratulations to Shigeru Ishiba on his election as Japanese prime minister.  

Xi noted that China and Japan are neighbors separated by a strip of water.

It serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples for both sides to walk on a road of peaceful coexistence, everlasting friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development, he said.

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Xi also expressed his hope that Japan can work together with China in abiding by the principles and consensus established in the four political documents between the two countries, and promoting a strategic relationship of mutual benefit in an all-round way, in an effort to build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship that meets the requirements of the new era.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang also sent congratulations to Ishiba.

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Li said the two sides should maintain the political foundation of bilateral relations, and enhance friendship, mutual trust and cooperation so as to better benefit the people of the two countries.