BEIJING, Dec. 17-- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to German Chancellor Angela Merkel on her reelection.

Earlier in the day, Merkel was reelected in a vote in Germany's lower house of parliament for a third term. Her coalition government will lead the country for the next four years.

In the message, Li hailed the steady progress made by China and Germany in their mutually beneficial cooperation in a variety of spheres, and lauded the two sides' closer communication and coordination in addressing international issues.

China looks forward to carrying out even closer cooperation with Chancellor Merkel and the new coalition government of Germany, so as to make the strategic partnership between the two countries better benefit the two peoples, the Chinese leader added in the message.