China applauds "smooth" presidential voting in Egypt

China Monday applauded Egypt for smoothly holding the first round vote of its presidential election.

"China has noted the initial results (of the first round vote) reported by media," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin at a press briefing.

Results of the first round vote show the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi is set to face ex-prime minister Ahmed Shafiq in the run-off vote slated for June 16 and 17.

"No matter who is elected as Egyptian president, China stands ready to work with the Egyptian side to continue to deepen the traditional friendship between the two peoples and push forward bilateral strategic cooperation," said Liu when asked to comment on the election.

China, Liu said, will respect the independent choice of the Egyptian people, and support Egyptian efforts to steadily promote its political transitional process and accomplish national stability, development and prosperity.