China on Tuesday expressed congratulations on the inauguration of Kyrgyzstan President Roza Otunbayeva, vowing to further push forward healthy bilateral ties.

"As a friendly neighbor of Kyrgyzstan, we applaud the smooth national referendum and extend congratulations to the country's newly inaugurated President Roza Otunbayeva," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang at a regular press briefing.

China respects the choice of the Kyrgyz people, and supports the country's efforts to resume national stability and develop the economy, he said.

"China is willing to make joint efforts with the country to further strengthen political trust and the traditional friendship, enhance cooperation in the areas of politics, trade, culture, transportation and security, and beef up cooperation in international and regional affairs," the spokesman added.

Otunbayeva, the first female president of Kyrgyzstan, was sworn in as the country's caretaker president on July 3 and will serve until Dec. 31, 2011. Her inauguration came one day after the Central Election Commission announced the country's new constitution had been overwhelmingly approved in a nationwide constitutional referendum.

According to the country's health authorities, over 290 people were killed and over 2,000 injured during the violence last month in southern Kyrgyzstan, which followed an earlier wave of riots that started in April with a revolt that ousted former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.