BEIJING, Nov 17: President Jiang Zemin on Sunday congratulated Gen Pervez Musharraf on his inauguration for a new five-year term, state press reported.

Jiang said that over the past few years Pakistan under Musharraf had “realised national stability and development after overcoming various difficulties under a complicated and changing situation both at home and abroad,” Xinhua reported.

“China cherishes its traditional friendly relations with Pakistan,” Jiang said. He vowed to cooperate in deepening and expanding the ties.

Musharraf had on Friday congratulated new general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, Hu Jintao, and hailed its 16th congress as a success.—APP