BEIJING, Dec. 16 -- China on Monday congratulated Michelle Bachelet on being elected as President of Chile.

China is ready to work with Chile to further cooperation and exchanges in various areas and advance the China-Chile strategic partnership, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

"The Chinese government has always adopted a strategic and long-term view on and attached importance to developing friendly, cooperative relations with Chile," Hua said.

She said Chile was the first South American country that established diplomatic links with China. The spokeswoman said since the two countries set up official relations 43 years ago, bilateral ties have been growing.

Hua said China and Chile have become important strategic partners as they maintained frequent high-level contact, deepened mutual trust, achieved results in mutually beneficial cooperation and communicated closely with each other on regional and international issues.

Bachelet of the center-left New Majority coalition won the election on Sunday with 62 percent of the votes and will take office on March 11, 2014.

Bachelet, a mother of three, made history by becoming the first woman in Chile to be elected president twice. She served as Chile's first female president from 2006 to 2010. She visited China in 2008.