Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday extended congratulations to Barham Salih on his election as Iraqi president. 

"I attach great importance to the development of China-Iraq relations and am willing to work with you to push forward the strategic partnership to achieve greater development so as to benefit both countries and their peoples, taking the opportunity of the 60 year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Iraq,” Xi said in a congratulatory call.

Salih was elected last Tuesday, routing his main rival Fuad Hussein, with 219 votes to 22. 

The 58-year-old veteran Kurdish politician was the former prime minister of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan from 2001 to 2004. He also served as deputy prime minister of the federal government and occupied many ministerial posts in Baghdad and Erbil in the last 15 years.