BEIJING, May 12 -- China on Monday congratulated South Africa for the success of its parliamentary election, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing.

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) has won the 2014 general elections, thus securing President Jacob Zuma's second term in office, the country's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) officially announced on Saturday.

China paid great attention to the election, said Hua, noting that the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) has already sent a congratulatory letter to the ANC.

China will continue to view relations with South Africa as a priority in its foreign policy, she said, adding that China is ready to work with South Africa to enhance political trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation and lift bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership to a new high.

The 2014 general elections are the first since the death in December of Nelson Mandela, and the fifth since the end of the apartheid era in 1994.