China on Friday congratulated Naoto Kan on his election as prime minister of Japan, saying China was ready to work with Japan to further bilateral ties.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in a press release that Naoto Kan on many occasions had said he attached great importance to developing the Japan-China relations, which China appreciated.

Noting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was fresh from a successful visit to Japan, during which the two countries reached several important agreements on promoting bilateral ties, Ma said China was willing to work with Japan to intensify the sound momentum of the development of bilateral ties on the basis of the existing achievements.

Newly-elected Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) chief Naoto Kan became Japan's new prime minister after being approved by Japan's two-chamber Diet Friday.

Kan is Japan's 94th prime minister and the fifth in less than five years.