BEIJING — China on Dec 3 congratulated Namibian president-elect Hage Geingob and his ruling Swapo party after a landslide victory in the country’s Presidential and National Assembly elections held on Nov 28.

Geingob won by 86.73 percent of the vote in results announced on Dec 1 by the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN).

Namibia is an all-weather friend of China in Africa, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying at a routine press briefing.

She praised the long-term mutual support, trust, fruitful exchanges and cooperation in multiple areas between the two countries.

The Chinese government pays great attention to the development of bilateral ties, she said, adding that China will make joint efforts with Namibia to push forward friendly cooperation to better benefit people of the two sides.

The ruling Swapo party took 77 out of 96 seats in the National Assembly, the top legislative body of the southwestern African country, according to ECN’s official results.

More than 890,000 people out of 1.2 million registered voters turned out to vote for the country’s third president and 96 members of the National Assembly in a vote described by observers as “free and fair,” despite some technical glitches.

The election was the first time electronic voting machines (EVMs) were used in Africa.

The incumbent, President Hifikepunye Pohamba, will hand over power to Geingob in March 2015 when his two five-year terms expire.

Since gaining independence 24 years ago, Namibia has conducted five democratic elections.