BEIJING - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday congratulated Yoshihiko Noda on his election as Japan's new prime minister.

In a message to his counterpart, Wen said both China and Japan were important neighbors with big influence in Asia and the world.

Developing a good-neighborly and friendly relationship of long-term stability between China and Japan was not only in the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, but also conducive to peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the world, he said.

Currently, China and Japan had important opportunities for further development of ties, Wen said.

He expressed the hope that both sides could work together to promote bilateral cooperation and exchanges in various fields and continue to deepen China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relations.

Former finance minister Noda was elected prime minister Tuesday in a vote by the House of Representatives, the most powerful house in the Diet, or parliament.