BEIJING -- Leaders and parliament speakers of foreign countries have sent congratulatory messages to Zhang Dejiang on his election as chairman of the top legislature, and Yu Zhengsheng as chairman of the top advisory body.

Zhang was elected chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress last Thursday; Yu was elected chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on March 11.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the leaders and parliament speakers who have offered congratulations to Zhang included Cape Verde National Assembly President Basilio Mosso Ramos, Colombian Congress President Roy Barreras, President of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg Laurent Mosar, President of the National Assembly of Serbia Nebojsa Stefanovic, President of the Democratic Party of Japan Banri Kaieda, and Chairman of the Japanese Communist Party Kazuo Shii.

Leaders who have sent congratulations to Yu included Burundian Senate Speaker Gabriel Ntisezerana, Speaker of Belarusian House of Representatives Vladimir Andreikchenko, Serbian National Assembly President Nebojsa Stefanovic, President of the Democratic Party of Japan Banri Kaieda, and Chairman of the Japanese Communist Party Kazuo Shii.