China hopes Egypt's first parliamentary elections will run smoothly, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday.

"The parliamentary election is an important step in Egypt's political process, conducive to its state stability and social union," spokesman Hong Lei said at a daily press briefing.

The parliamentary election is helpful for the smooth transition of power, Hong added.

Egyptians went to the polls on Monday in the first phase of elections for the People's Assembly, the lower house of parliament, the first since the fall of former President Hosni Mubarak in February.