In a telegram, Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, congratulated the successful convention of the 16th National Congress of the CPC as well as Hu's election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

The congratulatory telegram said that the 16th National Congress of the CPC was a historic meeting which set a "grandiose goal" of achieving prosperity for the Chinese nation in the 21st century.

The DPRK leader said he believed that the traditional DPRK-China friendship would continue to grow in conformity with the requirements of the present times and mutual interests of both nations.

Nong Duc Manh, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), said in a congratulatory message that the successful convention of the 16th National Congress of the CPC was an important political event for the CPC, China and the Chinese people.

He said the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and China has been further consolidated and developed over the past years, based on the principles of long-term stability, future-orientated, neighborly friendship and comprehensive cooperation.

Khamtay Siphandone, president of the Central Committee of Lao People's Revolutionary Party, said in his message that the Chinese people would achieve all objectives set by the 16th National Congress of the CPC and build China into a socialist modernized country in the 21st century under the new leadership, so as to contribute more to the peace, stability, cooperation and growth of the Asia-Pacific region and the whole world.

He said he hoped that the traditional friendship and overall cooperation between the two parties, two countries and two peoples would continue to improve to the benefit of both peoples.

(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2002)